England and Ghana drew 0-0 on Tuesday, and Who Do England Play Next? now points straight to the final day of Group L. The result left both teams closer to the Round of 32, but it did not settle who advances or who tops the group.
England and Ghana stay in range
England can clinch a spot in the Round of 32 with a win against Ghana. A draw does not do it for England, which keeps the next match from becoming a formality.
Ghana has the same narrow route. A win against England sends Ghana through to the Round of 32, while a draw leaves the knockout place unresolved.
Group L runs to final day
The draw also keeps the group winner in play. If England beats Ghana and Panama loses or draws against Croatia, England will win Group L. If Ghana beats England and Croatia loses or draws against Panama, Ghana will win Group L.
That puts the next results in direct control of the group picture. England and Ghana are closer to the Round of 32 after the draw, but neither side actually clinched qualification, and the group still needs the final day to sort out the order.
Croatia and Panama matter too
The other Group L games can still cut into the bracket. Croatia can be eliminated on Tuesday with a loss to Panama, provided Ghana draws or wins against England. Panama can be eliminated on Tuesday with a loss to Croatia, provided England draws or wins against Ghana.
That leaves the final-day sequence with real stakes on both sides of the group. England, Ghana, Panama, and Croatia all still have a path that depends on the result in front of them and the result beside them, and Group L will not produce its winner until that last round is complete.
