Who takes the points?
Sixty years of hurt. It’s the phrase that follows the Three Lions to every single major tournament. But under Thomas Tuchel, England arrives in North America with arguably the deepest, most versatile squad in world football.
They headline Group L, but it is far from a walk in the park.
The Heavyweights: England & Croatia
England’s midfield is frightening. With Jude Bellingham operating at the peak of his powers and Phil Foden creating magic in the half-spaces, they have the tools to dismantle deep defensive blocks.
However, they face a familiar foe in Croatia.
“Never count out Croatia in tournament football. Even with Luka Modrić playing in his final World Cup at age 40, Zlatko Dalić’s team possesses a tactical stubbornness that breaks teams down mentally.”
Croatia knows how to suffer without the ball and strike precisely when the opponent loses focus. The Matchday 3 clash between England and Croatia in Atlanta could very well decide who takes the top seed and an easier path in the Round of 32.
The Wildcards: Ghana & Panama
Do not sleep on Ghana. Otto Addo has returned to the helm, and Mohammed Kudus is coming off a sensational Premier League season. If Thomas Partey can control the tempo in the midfield, the Black Stars have the explosive pace on the wings to catch both England and Croatia on the counter-attack.
Panama, meanwhile, is competing in only their second World Cup. Thomas Christiansen has them incredibly well-organized. They will play a low block, rely heavily on set-pieces, and try to make every match a gritty, physical grind.
Our Group L Prediction
- England (7 pts)
- Croatia (5 pts)
- Ghana (4 pts) — Advances as a best 3rd-place team
- Panama (0 pts)
England should top the group, but expect their match against Croatia to be a tense, low-scoring tactical chess match.