England can clinch Group L on soccer today with a win over Panama on Saturday, but the path is cleaner if Ghana does not beat Croatia. Thomas Tuchel’s side enters with four points, and the group can still tilt on goal differential if both favorites win.
Harry Kane and England
Harry Kane had just 19 touches and no goals in the 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday, a night when England struggled to break through. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford changed the rhythm after coming on in the second half, and the attack looked sharper once they were on the field.
That draw left England at plus 2 in goal differential, one goal better than Ghana’s plus 1. If England beats Panama and Ghana also wins, the standings could come down to that margin instead of points alone.
Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium
Panama arrives eliminated from the knockout stage and will exit the tournament after its match with England at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Thomas Christiansen’s side has already lost 1-0 to Ghana and was undone by Ante Budimir’s 54th-minute goal against Croatia.
Panama is still searching for its first goal of the World Cup, which leaves England facing a team playing for pride rather than advancement. That changes the shape of the game, but not the arithmetic at the top of Group L.
Ghana and Croatia
Ghana and Croatia meet in the other pivotal Group L match, and both are still looking to clinch a spot in the round of 32. England’s route is simple only if that game does not produce a Ghana win; otherwise, the group opens back up.
The final slate for Groups J, K and L also includes Colombia versus Portugal, where the winner takes Group K, and Argentina against Jordan in Group J, where Argentina has already won the group and might rest Lionel Messi. Austria and Algeria likely need at least a point to feel comfortable about advancing, but England’s immediate focus is narrower: beat Panama, and hope Ghana does not force a tiebreak that sends Group L to goal differential.
