The England national team wants to turn things around as it wraps up its matches in Group 12 of this year’s World Cup and prove wrong those who were quick to harshly criticize their performance following the 0-0 draw with Ghana.
As of early Saturday morning, Tuchel’s team has secured a spot in the World Cup Round of 32 thanks to the results that have come in, however, the “Three Lions” want to secure first place in their group as well.
That’s why against Panama—even with James out and perhaps with Elliot Anderson being rested for the next round— the English will be looking for a comfortable victory without breaking a sweat.
The German head coach of the English team, of course, will be counting on the fact that Panama, having already been eliminated, will not opt for the very defensive approach that Ghana took a few days ago, when the Africans held the English to a 0-0 draw.
England and Panama are meeting again at the World Cup, following the 2018 tournament, when a hat trick by Harry Kane secured a comfortable victory for the favorites in that matchup, with a final score of 6-1.
Probable starting lineups
Panama: Mosquera, Blackman, Córdoba, Escobar, Murillo, Harvey, Martínez, Andrade, Rodríguez, Waterman, Barcenas
England: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Ghechi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Bellingham, Rogers, Saka, Rashford, Kane
*photo source: AP