Bukayo Saka has admitted that the England squad are still carrying a “scar in us” after their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final exit.

England get their Nations League campaign under way against world champions Spain at Wembley on September 26, just nine weeks on from conceding two late goals in a painful last-four defeat to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Atlanta.

Saka netted a hat-trick as England overcame France 6-4 to claim third place at the World Cup.

However, the 25-year-old Arsenal winger stressed that the disappointment of missing out on England’s first major men’s international trophy since the 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil was deeply felt.

“Obviously, there’s still a scar in us,” Saka told the BBC on Wednesday. “When you believed, and everyone was so united and so confident we could do it, not just us, but the whole country.

“We’re trying to draw a line under it now and focus on the new international season and what we have coming up now.

“You try to move on as soon as possible, but you know, a scar is a scar (and) decides to heal when it heals itself.

“But like I said, we’ve come here to a new international season, and we’ve got four massive, difficult group games to try to qualify us in the Nations League, which we’re fully focused on.”

Saka, who managed an Achilles injury throughout the World Cup in North America, stayed on the bench during the semi-final defeat to Argentina as England manager Tuchel turned to defensive substitutions in an unsuccessful attempt to protect a 1-0 lead.

Tuchel came in for fierce criticism over his tactics as England sat on their advantage against Argentina before collapsing late in Atlanta.

“We have had critical reviews that will stay, of course, behind closed doors,” said Tuchel when unveiling his Nations League squad last week as he looks to guide England to Euro 2028 glory.

“I am the biggest critic of myself, and reflection is sometimes necessary to get better, and experience is a crucial part of coaching,” the 53-year-old German added.

Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.