Dugout Discussion
27 June 2026 69 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Group L of the FIFA World Cup comes to a head this evening, with three nations still in with a chance of top spot.

England are the favourites to finish first, with a clash against eliminated Panama to come this evening.

Ghana or even Croatia could still pip the Three Lions to the summit of the group, should results go their way.

England and Ghana are already assured of progress to the Round of 32, while Croatia just need a point to join them.

Kick-off in this evening’s first double-header is at 22:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

England boss Thomas Tuchel is the busiest manager in the group, making five changes.

Two are dictated by fitness issues, with Reece James ($5.2m) and Declan Rice ($7.0m) making way.

Left-back Djed Spence ($4.5m) and wingers Noni Madueke ($6.1m) and Anthony Gordon ($7.0m) also drop out.

In come Jarell Quansah ($4.4m) and Nico O’Reilly ($4.7m) at full-back, Morgan Rogers ($7.2m) into a more attack-minded midfield, and Bukayo Saka ($9.5m) and Marcus Rashford ($7.5m) on the flanks.

As for Panama, Fidel Escobar ($3.8m) and Jorge Gutierrez ($3.5m) replace Jiovany Ramos ($3.5m) and Cesar Blackman ($3.7m).

It’s three changes apiece in the other Group L match.

Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol ($5.0m), Marco Pasalic ($5.3m) and Petar Musa ($5.1m) make way for Nikola Vlasic ($6.1m), Petar Sucic ($4.2m) and Ante Budimir ($6.8m).

Ghana’s alterations see Derrick Luckassen ($3.7m), Elisha Owusu ($5.3m) and Kamaldeen Sulemana ($5.1m) replace Nathan Opoku ($3.8m), Inaki Williams ($5.9m) and Caleb Yirenkyi ($4.7m).

LINE-UPS

England XI: Pickford, Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Bellingham, Rogers, Saka, Kane, Rashford.

Subs: Rice, Stones, Dean Henderson, Trafford, Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Gordon, Watkins, Madueke, Eze, Toney, Spence.

Panama XI: Mosquera, Andrade, Cordoba, Escobar, Gutierrez, Murillo, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Harvey, Barcenas, Martinez, Tomas Rodriguez.

Subs: Mejia, Samudio, Blackman, Farina, Carrasquilla, Diaz, Ramos, Davis, Fajardo, Waterman, Quintero, Godoy, Yanis, Londono, Miller.


Croatia XI: Livakovic, Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Kovacic, Modric, Vlasic, Baturina, Petar Sucic, Budimir, Perisic.

Subs: Pandur, Kotarski, Gvardiol, Caleta-Car, Moro, Kramaric, Mario Pasalic, Jakic, Fruk, Matanovic, Luka Sucic, Vuskovic, Marco Pasalic, Erlic, Musa.

Ghana XI: Asare, Adjetey, Mensah, Luckassen, Senaya, Partey, Sibo, Semenyo, Owusu, Ayew, Sulemana.

Subs: Ati-Zigi, Anang, Seidu, Yirenkyi, Mumin, Fatawu, Thomas-Asante, Baah, Baba, Opoku, Williams, Boakye, Oppong, Nuamah, Adu.

69 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    5 hours, 47 mins ago

    Hendo is Englands only non black outfield player. That’s a first surely?

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      5 hours, 45 mins ago

      Didn’t notice that!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        5 hours, 38 mins ago

        Should’ve kept Jude on and left Hendo on the bench. Would’ve been pretty historic.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 10 mins ago

      He's the DEI player

  2. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 39 mins ago

    Panama v England 0-2 at full time.

    England have won Group L.

  3. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 35 mins ago

    Croatia v Ghana 2-1 at full time.

    Croatia is the runner up of Group L and Ghana is third. Both have qualified to R32.

  4. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 32 mins ago

    Confirmed Round of 32 matches so far:

    South Africa v Canada
    Brazil v Japan
    Germany v Paraguay
    Netherlands v Morocco
    Ivory Coast v Norway
    France v Sweden
    Mexico v Ecuador
    United States v Bosnia & Herzegovina
    Australia v Egypt
    Argentina v Cape Verde

    6 more fixtures to be confirmed.

    1. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 hours, 25 mins ago

      Can't wait for Vozinha to thwart Messi over and over again

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        5 hours, 18 mins ago

        Will he sit on the bench beside him?

        1. Blame it on Traore
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 hours, 16 mins ago

          Haha. Good one!

      2. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        2 mins ago

        Can't wait for "Clinton" to rise again 😆

  5. Blame it on Traore
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 hours, 26 mins ago

    Leave the captaincy on Kane or switch to Masuaku?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 13 mins ago

      Stick.

  6. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    5 hours, 24 mins ago

    Munoz benched? Has been their best player so far, baffling decision

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 8 mins ago

      Probably the reason he wants to protect him since Colombia has already qualified and secured at least a runner up spot in this group.

      Group winner gets Ghana while runnerup gets Croatia. Both tough opponents, but different sides of the bracket.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        5 hours, 4 mins ago

        That being said the bottom bracket looks much easier so both teams should want to win this.

  7. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 14 Years
    5 hours, 9 mins ago

    Glad Lerma playing but benching Munoz? He been great to watch.