Dugout Discussion
23 June 2026 127 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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The next lot of Group L matches get underway on Tuesday night, as England and Ghana aim to make it two wins from two.

Kick-off in Boston is at 21:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Tuchel makes two changes from England’s impressive victory over Croatia, and they’re both in defence. Marc Guehi ($5.1m) and Djed Spence ($4.5m) replace John Stones ($4.6m) and Nico O’Reilly ($4.7m).

This means that Bukayo Saka ($9.5m) remains a substitute, and Anthony Gordon ($7.0m) is still preferred to goal-scoring understudy Marcus Rashford ($7.5m).

As for Ghana, there are four changes from the 1-0 over Panama. Thomas Partey ($6.2m) starts, having been denied entry into Canada last week. Also entering the XI are Inaki Williams ($5.9m), Kwasi Sibo ($4.7m) and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare ($3.8m).

Out go Lawrence Ati Zigi ($4.0m), Elisha Owusu ($5.3m), Ernest Nuamah ($5.0m) and former Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana ($5.1m).

LINE-UPS

England XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Subs: Henderson, Trafford, Chalobah, O’Reilly, Stones, Burn, Saka, Henderson, Mainoo, Quansah, Rogers, Rashford, Eze, Watkins, Toney

Ghana XI: Asare; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Williams, Partey, Yirenkyi, Sibo, Semenyo; Ayew

Subs: Zigi, Anang, Seidu, Mumin, Rahman, Oppong, Luckassen, Owusu, Boakye, Fatawu, Thomas-Asante, Baah, Sulemana, Nuamah, Adu


FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

127 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Predictions:

    England 3-0 Ghana

    Kane, Gordon & Saka (from the bench)

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Assists - Rice & Spence

    2. NZREDS
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      2-1 England

    3. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Come on ENGLAND

    4. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      1-1

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Another WC try. How is it looking?

    Room Beach
    Dumfries Medina Doue Freeman Riad
    Yamal Vini Salah Mane Summerville
    Mbappe Messi Gakpo

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Looks good. WC3 teams will be very different from what I've seen thus far. I have 6 out of your 15.

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Don't think Messi starts.

      I'm not so keen on Salah vs a decent Iran defense and also skeptical on Yamal mins/motivation. Spain win the group with a draw.
      I think De Bruyne is one of the best picks you can get right now. Super high motivation vs a very low ranked team.

      Defense wise, I think you can do better. Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Belgium all seem really good teams to back with scouting bonus options.

      1. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Counterpoint - Belgium look bloody useless

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          They played the 2 best teams so far. New Zealand are notably worse. I think a KDB haul is very likely.

          1. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            1 month, 18 days ago

            *2 best in their group just to clarify haha

        2. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          De cuyper is worth a punt.. should have scored gw2

      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I think Messi will start but who knows.

        Same with Yamal. Need to get up to speed. Not hundred on Salah

        Belgium are useless, have no interest in KDB

        I think I have a solid defence here, all with scouting bonus except Dumfries

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Belgium have it all to play for against the lowest ranked team in the tournament. It's a no-brainer imo but sure if you think you can find better.

          I'm like 95% sure Messi doesn't start. He's nearly 40. Argentina have qualified top of the group already. He will come on for the last 20 mins at most. Imagine the stick the manager would get if Messi gets injured in a dead rubber.

          Yamal I can see starting. They have something to play for, he needs the mins for rhythm. Problem is he's basically guaranteed to come off after an hour at most. I don't think 60 mins of Yamal vs Uruguay is worth one of my 5 midfield slots for this week..

    3. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      You taking a room on the beach? I am jealous

  3. NZREDS
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Footballs coming home!

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      U can buy footballs from amazon wherever u r

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    What decent OOP players are there in the fantasy game?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Saibari

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Thanks

  5. The Pep Revolution
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Who would you consider essential for MD3?

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Difficult question when u have a pool of 48*26 players but probably some dutch, ivory coast, morocco and senegal players.. plus mbabbe and kane, if eng dont win today

  6. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Won't matter if they win, but it's shocking that Konsa, Madueke and Spence are all starters in an English World Cup game.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Especially with Saka on the bench…

      1. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Not that they have great CB depth, but I haven't liked Konsa since I had him for 12 weeks in a row without a Villa CS

    2. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Tuchel likes pace

    3. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Don't agree re. Konsa. Class defender.

      1. BUZZBOMB ♡
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Stones and Guehi were the choice tonight imho. It's not really going to make a difference though.

  7. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    2-0, 3-0, 2-1 or 1-1.

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Those player profile vids are very lame - only Guehi stood there and was like, I’m not doing anything that makes me look like a prat…

  9. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 18 days ago

    I like a yellow kit

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Anyone remember the Magic School Bus? Suddenly entered my mind, I dunno why.

  10. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    If Gordon cost England a game by getting carded for going down too easy, the press will call him Princess Dive.

  11. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Are gordon and madueke really the players to get england into qf and beyond?? Why not start saka and Rashford?

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      The phrase "starters & finishers" has been used a lot. They're both good against tired legs, and both take good penalties. Maybe it's part of a bigger plan.

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Still thinking the same? Should be triple change at halftime

        1. Moon Dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 month, 18 days ago

          I was just quoting the pressers. I dunno what you want me to take back.

          The phrase "starters & finishers" has been used a lot in pressers. That hasn't changed.

          Saka and Rashford are both good against tired legs, and both take good penalties. That hasn't changed either.

          Ghana has defended well as I thought they would:
          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/06/23/portugal-v-uzbekistan-team-news-dias-in-bernardo-out?hc_page=-1#hc_comment_27652353

          Tough game. Maybe Saka and Rashford make the difference late game against tired legs. I dunno I'm just an idiot quoting pressers to sound smarter than I am.

          1. jacob1989
            • 4 Years
            1 month, 18 days ago

            Isnt gordon 1st choice pk taker for newcastle?

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Saka hasn’t been fully fit for over a year

  12. THE Wild Rover
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Why do I always feel like Shearer is watching a different game to me?

  13. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Ghana are basically playing like england under Southgate

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Despite the low block and passivity, Southgate's teams weirdly scored a lot of goals.
      He averaged 2.1 goals per game (213 goals in 102 matches). This is one of the highest averages in England's history, exceeded only by Walter Winterbottom (1946).

      Football is weird.

      So am I.

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Well maybe they averaged 5 or 6 vs san marino, liechtenstein, Andorra, etc to inflate the average.

  14. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    James and Ayew bumped heads

  15. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    No urgency from England. This is boring AF. If there's one team to ruin my slip, it has to be England. Heck!!

    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Relax, they will win

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      U r right.. most boring game this wc and i have been watching almost every game..

  16. Salarrivederci
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Thank God hydration breaks are not in FPL.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I like it.. gives us fans to take a leak or get something to drink without worrying if we miss a goal

      1. Haa-lala-land
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Yes, this!

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Probably be a chip next season….

  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Kane is too far in attack. Should revert to his no 6 role as deep lying playmaker. Remove anderson and play watkins as cf.

  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    England 242 vs Ghana 32 passes lol…

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      0-0

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Ghana has less passes than minutes passed

  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Ghana are the lowest ranked of the 10 African teams this wc .

  20. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Big cheers for Becks

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Only beer left after the Tartan Army sank the rest lol

  21. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Rice yellow

  22. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Saffron Rice…

  23. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Think I've made a mistake bringing in Kane, specially since I had Oyarzebal -_-

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Ouch!

    2. TheFridge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I did the same, man. Definitely painful.

  24. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Even cape verde got a 0-0 vs spain. But then the gk made like 10 saves atleast.. ghana gk has had nothing to do

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 18 days ago

      England are getting Queiroz'd. They can only hope Ghana tire 2nd half. Quite the double-decker bus...

  25. THE Wild Rover
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Set prices have been gash

  26. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    ITV for pundits but BBC for commentary

  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Southgate or not, how do england manage to be so boring always?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Some kind of special ability they have, specially considering they have players like Bellingham and Kane in attack.

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      England aren’t playing badly, Ghana’s entire gameplan is not to attack

      1. Pariße
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        England have kinda been equally congested in defence when they tried.

  28. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Partey motm 😮

  29. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    On 121 points with Kane as my 12th man
    Get

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Get Arry the ball lads

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Oh, just realised also have Kane as 12th….

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Wow. On 102 without kane at all. Have munoz and baturina left.. have o reilly but benched!

  30. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    First time I’ve seen Gordon since the anthem.