England team update for the Panama game: Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are likely to start.
Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are set to start for England in their last World Cup group game against Panama.
Before Saturday’s match at MetLife Stadium in New York, England’s coach Thomas Tuchel has some tough decisions to make. Reece James, who had a solid season with Chelsea, is out of the game against Panama because of a small hamstring injury he got in the 0-0 draw with Ghana.
Tuchel said, “He couldn’t train in the last two days. He’s now on a fast rehab plan, and we’ll take it one game at a time.” There’s hope James might be back after this match, but for now, Tuchel needs to find other options.
BBC Sport reports that Jarell Quansah will step in at right-back, while Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi will form the defense. Jordan Pickford will start as goalkeeper, and Tuchel plans to stick with the 4-2-3-1 setup.
The coaching team is also checking on Declan Rice, who has been feeling mild nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas. It looks like Rice will rest for this game, with Morgan Rogers making his World Cup debut alongside Elliot Anderson.
Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford will play up front, supporting Harry Kane.
Panama is expected to play a 5-4-1 formation. Orlando Mosquera will guard the goal, backed by defenders Amir Murillo, Jiovany Ramos, Jose Cordoba, Cesar Blackman, and Andres Andrade. In midfield, Cristian Martinez, Carlos Harvey, Yoel Barcenas, and Jose Luis Rodriguez will try to stop England’s attack, while Jose Fajardo will lead Panama’s attack.
Here are the expected line-ups:
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Bellingham, Rogers; Saka, Kane, Rashford.
Panama (5-4-1): Mosquera; Murillo, Cordoba, Ramos, Andrade, Blackman; Martinez, Barcenas, Harvey, Rodriguez; Fajardo.