England face Panama in their final Group L fixture on 27 June at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with kick off at around 5:00 PM ET. The Three Lions sit top of the group on four points after beating Croatia 4-2 and drawing 0-0 with Ghana, so a win here seals first place. Panama are already out with zero points from two defeats, meaning the two sides arrive in entirely different circumstances.
Tuchel, appointed in late 2024 with his contract running through Euro 2028, has never faced Christiansen as a manager and has built England around possession and defensive structure, with growing signs the players are buying into it. Christiansen has been in charge of Panama since July 2020, guiding them to the 2023 Gold Cup final and the 2024 Copa América quarter-finals and building a side that wins by keeping shape and hitting on the counter through Murillo's overlapping runs from right back.
England went unbeaten through qualifying, keeping clean sheets consistently and their tournament form has been solid if unspectacular. Panama beat the Dominican Republic 4-2 in preparation, though losses to Ghana and Croatia in the group stage, both by a single goal, confirmed the ceiling.
Both squads are largely intact with no significant injury or suspension concerns. England's 26 man squad includes Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Rice and Stones, while Panama will look to Murillo's runs from right back, Godoy's leadership in midfield and Mosquera in goal. Tuchel may rotate given qualification is already secured but expect a competitive lineup rather than a wholesale rest.
England under Tuchel are happiest with the ball and Kane is the fixed point everything builds around. Bellingham's movement between the lines creates space in behind and Saka's delivery at set pieces, with Kane and Stones as targets, is likely where the first goal comes from. Panama sit deep and counter through Murillo going forward, with Godoy screening in front of the back four.
These two have met only once at a World Cup: England won 6-1 in 2018 with Kane scoring a hat trick and Panama will be hoping that scoreline stays where it belongs.
Christiansen may push men forward with elimination already confirmed and there is probably a goal in Panama given they lost by a single goal to both Ghana and Croatia. If Panama push higher in the second half, England's back line may face more direct pressure than it has in the group stage and rotation adds a small wrinkle to an otherwise comfortable equation.
England to win 2-1, with Kane's finishing and set piece delivery doing most of the damage and Panama probably nicking something late on the counter.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
