England’s top player is a big question mark for the Panama game, as Thomas Tuchel’s leaked starting lineup shows three changes likely.
A key England player might miss the Three Lions’ next World Cup Group L game against Panama, as coach Thomas Tuchel is thinking about making three changes from the draw with Ghana.
England is currently top of Group L after two games, but they haven’t officially qualified for the round of 32 yet. Their spot will be confirmed tonight (June 26) if two of the third-place teams from other groups finish with three points or fewer. England has four points from their 4-2 win over Croatia and a 0-0 draw with Ghana. Also, if Uruguay and Spain draw tonight, England will go through before facing Panama on June 27.
Even though it looks like England will make it to the next round, there’s some worry about a key player’s fitness before the Panama match. Chelsea’s right-back Reece James started the first two games but might miss the next one. Reports say Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah, who has only three England caps, could take James’s place on the right side of defence.
Nico O’Reilly might come in for Djed Spence at left-back. Spence started against Croatia but was dropped for the Ghana game. On the right wing, Bukayo Saka could get his first start of the tournament, possibly replacing his Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke, who played the last two games.
Some people want Marcus Rashford to start instead of Anthony Gordon on the left wing, but it looks like Gordon will keep his spot. Declan Rice’s fitness is also a question mark after he missed training on Thursday, but he might still play.
After the dull draw with Ghana, Tuchel said he plans to make some “moderate” changes to the starting lineup for the Panama game. He explained he wasn’t sure about a full rotation, even if England had beaten Ghana. He feels some players should stay on the pitch but wants to be careful with changes so the team keeps performing well.
Tuchel liked how the centre-backs played against Ghana and thought Elliot Anderson improved with a better performance than in the Croatia game. About Saka, he said the player seems to be getting ready and will hopefully push for a spot. There are still a few training sessions left before the Panama game, and Tuchel wants everyone in top shape.
He stressed that while Saka is an important player, the whole team needs to be ready — it’s not just about one person. Everyone has to be fit and motivated to help the team succeed.