Key events
Thomas Tuchel talks to ITV. “We feel very well prepared… a strong team… ready to go… prove a point… take the next step and win the match… I’m always excited about my team because we have a strong team… very attacking… the goal is to speed up the game… it’s very difficult if you’re always playing against ten people defending… dedication… dedication… we have a lot to improve on but we’re ready for it… these are squads on the side… we attack with three or four players… it’s not just about Marcus (Rashford) or Anthony (Gordon) … Declan (Rice) has been knocked out … he’s ready to play and I’d like to manage his minutes … and he’s got a yellow card … Jude (Bellingham) is in 8th and Morgan (Rogers) is in 10th.”
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Pre-match mail. “At what stage of the game (assuming it’s still scoreless) do you think you’ll get an email lamenting the absence of Foden/Palmer/Alexander-Arnold? I’ll give it 20 minutes.” – David Wall
“A warning from a seasoned Concacaf viewer. In addition to Panama’s use of a low block, the England team can expect a steady diet of cleat massage on the feet, ankles and legs.” – Mary Waltz
“As the England starting line-up makes clear, the Three Lions are ready to face the truth or Konsa Quansas today,” Peter O.
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Panama made three changes to its starting line-up following its 1-0 defeat to Croatia. Fidel Escobar and Jorge Gutierrez replace Hiovani Ramos and Cesar Blackman at the back, while Jose Fajardo makes way for Tomas Rodriguez at the front. Panama hopes to send Adalberto Carrasquilla, its beating heart and playmaker, who has yet to play in this World Cup, at some point.
Adalberto CarrasquillaShare
Updated at 3:59 pm ET.
As expected, England made five changes to the team that started the goalless draw with Ghana earlier this week. Reece James is out with a hamstring, so Jarell Quansah comes in at right-back. Nico O’Reilly reclaims his left-back spot from Jed Spence. Declan Rice rests to save his back; he is replaced by Morgan Rogers in a more attack-oriented midfield. Up front, Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon were replaced by Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, who livened things up late in the match against Ghana.
Jarell QuansahShare
Teams
Panama: Mosquera, Murillo, Escobar, Cordova, Andrade, Gutierrez, Martinez, Barcenas, Harvey, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Tomas Rodriguez.
Subs: Mejia, Zamudio, Blackman, Farina, Carrasquilla, Diaz, Ramos, Davis, Fajardo, Waterman, Quintero, Godoy, Janis, Londono, Miller.
England: Pickford, Quansa, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Bellingham, Anderson, Saka, Rodgers, Rashford, Kane.
Subs: Rice, Stones, Dean Henderson, Trafford, Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Byrne, Mainu, Gordon, Watkins, Maduek, Eze, Toney, Spence.
Judge: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar).
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Updated at 3:46 p.m. ET.
England took the weather with it. As you can see from the photo, it’s been capsized for several hours in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Then a home away from home! (If we don’t count the current heatwave sweeping the UK, that is, but let’s not pull any strings, you’ll get the point.) Luckily, there’s no expectation of electrical activity or anything else that would force FIFA to turn on its protocols. The only stops tonight, God willing, will be the ever-popular hydration breaks. Small mercies.
It’s a little hot here for a bus. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PAShare
Updated at 3:44 pm ET.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention the plight of Scotland.
Sigh.
They’re not technically out of the game yet, although they need groups J, K and L to play well if they want to survive. The odds of that happening are currently a whopping 0.07%, but that final chunk of nil-seven points will be mercilessly dumped unless Ghana can beat Croatia by at least three goals in tonight’s other Group L match. There’s no point worrying about the other necessary survival criteria just yet, then.
“Too right, Scott,” Simon McMahon boldly responds to all these words. “I’m already on my fifth and fifth scarf from Ghana, Uzbekistan, DR Congo, Algeria and Austria. Come on, Scotland! It’s coming home, baby!”
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Updated at 3:32 pm ET.
As for England… Well, it’s a small sample, but to be honest, the ups have been more pronounced than the downs. A win and a draw are enough to guarantee progress to the knockout stages following Spain’s victory over Uruguay last night. The first, albeit the lowest, obstacle has already been overcome without unnecessary fuss.
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Here’s how Panama has achieved it so far. If you’re going to lose both matches without breaking trust, the only way to do it is with two gutsy performances against an imaginary opponent.
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Then that low block. This turns out to be a real mystery. But don’t worry! It features some of the world’s leading management minds – Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes to be exact.
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Facing England tonight. Support the team that started this tournament as the 33rd best in the world with our team and player guides. Start with their star man Michael Amir Murillo and move on…
Michael Amir MurilloShare
Rashford, Saka, Rodgers and Quansah are expected to start.
…and there’s early team news from our man. Over to you, Jacob Steinberg…
double quoteGreetings from New Jersey. Marcus Rashford is rumored to replace Anthony Gordon on the left when England face Panama later. Jarell Quansah is also expected to make his World Cup debut, replacing the injured Reece James at right-back. Bukayo Saka replaces Noni Madueke and in attack it looks like Morgan Rogers will replace the rested Declan Rice and link up with Jude Bellingham as Tuchel tries to find a way to break Panama’s low block.
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Updated at 15:11 ET.
Preamble
England recorded their biggest World Cup victory against Panama at the 2018 tournament. A 6-2 defeat sent Gareth Southgate’s side into fourth place; Harry Kane’s hat-trick went a long way in helping him win the Golden Boot. Here we are again… except last time Panama were ranked 55th in the world, but now they are ranked 42nd, and that’s after falling eight places following their 1-0 defeat to Croatia. Panama also gave Ghana a good performance in their opening Group L match, so while most observers expect England to do the deed tonight, the current version of the Red Tide – finishing second behind Mexico in both the previous Concacaf Gold Cup and the Nations League – is no pushover. England look to bounce back from struggles against Queirozbol earlier in the week; if they do, they’ll earn the applause that comes their way and hope it bodes well for another deep run. The tournament will start at 22:00 BST, 17:00 EST and 7:00 AEST. It’s on!
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