Group L looks to be one of the tougher World Cup groups on paper, with England lining up alongside 2018 finalists Croatia.
Recovering Ghana, who failed to qualify for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, will hope to get a result against Panama in their opening match which will see them take a big step towards qualification.
Teams
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
Fixtures
Date | Fixture | Kick-off (BST) | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
17th June | England v Croatia | 21:00 | Dallas Stadium |
18th June | Ghana v Panama | 00:00 | Toronto Stadium |
23rd June | England v Ghana | 21:00 | Boston Stadium |
24th June | Panama v Croatia | 00:00 | Toronto Stadium |
27th June | Panama v England | 22:00 | New York New Jersey Stadium |
27th June | Croatia v Ghana | 22:00 | Philadelphia Stadium |
England
Cruising through the qualifiers, winning all eight games without conceding a goal, England now face a significant step up, with Thomas Tuchel tasked with finally getting the Three Lions over the line after a number of close calls in recent years.
Manager
Thomas Tuchel
While Gareth Southgate is perhaps too harshly remembered for his time as England boss considering what had come before him, expectations were raised to levels where the Three Lions need to be reaching finals if not winning them. Enter: Thomas Tuchel.
A German might not have been many England fans' pick, but his tournament credentials are without question. Taking Paris Saint-Germain to the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 2020, Tuchel took Chelsea to the trophy in 2021 as well as the EFL Cup and FA Cup final in 2022.
Key Player
Harry Kane
One of the best strikers in the world for a decade, Harry Kane has taken his game to new levels since his move to Bayern Munich and now has legitimate Ballon d'Or claims.
His eight goals in qualifying were only bettered by the ridiculous 16 by Erling Haaland, and the 2018 Golden Boot winner will no doubt have his eyes on more individual -- and collective -- silverware over the summer.
Breakout player
Elliot Anderson
While Premier League fans will be well accustomed to Elliot Anderson by now, the 23-year-old has just eight England caps to his name, only making his debut as recently as 6th September, and can introduce himself to a bigger stage over the summer.
Expected to complete a nine-figure move to Manchester City ahead of next season, Anderson will be entrusted to start alongside Declan Rice in the Three Lions midfield.
Odds
Certainly the best team in the group, England should face no trouble from Ghana or Panama, and their opening game sees a Croatia far removed from their 2018 efforts.
Croatia
Handed a simple qualifying group, Croatia took 22 points from a possible 24 in qualifying, but look much weaker than they did four and eight years ago, when reaching the semi-final and final respectively.
Manager
Zlatko Dalic
After spending nearly a decade in the Middle East, Zlatko Dalic was handed the reins to the national team in 2017, leading the side at the following year's World Cup where they reached the final. Dalic has remained in charge since, leading Croatia to third place in 2022.
Key player
Luka Modric
Remarkably, Luka Modric was nearly 33 when guiding Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final en route to a Ballon d'Or and, now 40, he's still the lynchpin of the Croatian midfield.
Still operating at a high level, Modric played nearly every game for Milan last season with the Rossoneri involved in a title challenge before falling away towards the end of the season. Modric himself missed three of the final four games with a broken cheekbone, coming off the bench in the final game of the season as Milan dropped out of the top four.
Though perhaps lacking match fitness, skipper Modric can still pull the strings for the national side.
Breakout player
Luka Vuskovic
Dalic said he'd never play a back three again after hastily abandoning the formation during a World Cup qualifier with the Faroe Islands, but seems to have had a change of heart, claiming players are more familiar with the setup at club level. It will mean that Luka Vuskovic should play in between Josip Sutalo and Josko Gvardiol, with the teenage primed for a big tournament.
Sent out on loan from Tottenham last season, Vuskovic excelled at Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Physically imposing and technically proficient, Vuskovic should be part of the Croatia setup for years to come.
Odds
It's not the Croatia of four years ago, though a handful of players still remain. That may be the problem later in the tournament when the conditions take their toll on old legs, but Croatia should have enough to get past Panama and Ghana.
Qatar
Given the chance to atone for an underwhelming 2022 World Cup as hosts, Qatar had to go through the fourth round of qualifying, when a strong home record wasn’t enough to book a place from the third round. On the road, Qatar lost 4-1, 3-0, 5-0 and 3-1 Iran, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan respectively.
Manager
Carlos Queiroz
Having previously led South Africa, Portugal and Iran to the World Cup, Carlos Queiroz gets another crack with Ghana. Otto Addo was dismissed ahead of the tournament on the back of four straight defeats, and the former Manchester United assistant should at least provide some defensive solidity to the side.
Key player
Antoine Semenyo
While Ghana do have talent in their squad in the shape of Abdul Fatawu, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo is head and shoulders above and the Black Stars will look to the Manchester City man throughout the tournament.
Breakout player
Abdul Fatawu
Ghana haven't exactly been the most predictable side over the last decade but they do boast plenty of attacking talent that should see them make the knockouts. Abdul Fatawu is primed for a move away from Leicester, and could see his price tag inflated over the summer.
Odds
Looking inferior to England and Croatia, Ghana's qualification hopes seem to hinge on getting a positive result against Panama and keeping their goal difference solid.
Panama
Panama qualified for their second World Cup having gone unbeaten in their six qualifying games, and will look to build on their 2018 efforts when shipping 11 goals -- including six to England -- to finish bottom of their group.
Manager
Thomas Christiansen
Best remembered for his spell as Leeds United manager, Thomas Christiansen is in charge of Panama and has been since July 2020, reaching the Gold Cup final in 2023 having beaten the USA on penalties in the semi-final.
Key player
Adalberto Carrasquilla
Panama's World Cup preparations took a blow with the news that midfield orchestrator Adalberto Carrasquilla was a doubt for their crucial World Cup opener, but the rumblings are that the midfielder will just about be fit to start against Ghana.
Winner of the Gold Cup Golden Ball in 2023, the 27-year-old will be vital to hopes of a result for Christiansen's side.
Breakout player
Jose Cordoba
Far from the youngest breakout player in the tournament, 25-year-old Jose Cordoba actually represents the third-youngest player in the Panama squad. Panama's goal will be to keep things as tight as possible at the back in a bid to frustrate opponents, and the Norwich defender will be a crucial part of the back line.
Odds
Panama's hopes of reaching the knockouts likely hinge on their opening match against Ghana. Get a positive result there and qualification is possible. Lose to Ghana, and a route to the knockouts looks nigh-on impossible.
World Cup Group Previews
- World Cup Group A Preview: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
- World Cup Group B Preview: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- World Cup Group C Preview: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- World Cup Group D Preview: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye
- World Cup Group E Preview: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
- World Cup Group F Preview: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
- World Cup Group G Preview: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- World Cup Group H Preview: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- World Cup Group I Preview: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
- World Cup Group J Preview: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- World Cup Group K Preview: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Odds displayed in the above article were correct at time of writing and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
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