The Truth About England's World Cup Opponents - Group L Analysis

An expanded 48-team World Cup means England have even less of an excuse for failing to get out the group stage

It's happened three times before, 1950, 1958 and 2014. But for the most part, England have been big hitters on the World Cup stage

going deep in tournament football but ultimately always falling short in the modern era

If the unthinkable happens this summer, it'll be utter chaos. The newspaper columnists will be sharpening their quills and calling for Thomas Tuchel's head

But it won't happen. It can't. And don't go all Nick McCarthy here and tell me..

It can. Of course, it can. But are Panama, Ghana and Croatia going to put up enough of a fight

to thwart Tommy T's unbeaten and qualifying Euro 2024 finalists? Really? I'm Joe Donoghue, I write for 442

and lead our boys a bit special young player scouting series, which you should check out

I don't know why you haven't yet. And I've got the lowdown on the three lines, three group stage opponents

Roderick gets scores! Panama's going to the World Cup! To begin with I'm going to talk about the opponent you probably know least about, Panama

It's got the c, a skyline that's been dubbed the Dubai of Latin America, take note influencers

pristine islands and beaches, gap yards, incredible biodiversity and historically it's where the wealthy would put their money

if they didn't want to pay any tax on it, which is everyone rich ever

Football it's not so well known for. Los Ceros, literal translation the Cmen, are 33rd in the FIFA World Rankings

which is higher than Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, which is quite remarkable really

They've never won a major trophy but have reached the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on three previous occasions

that's North America and the Caribbean's version of the Euros, and qualified for the World Cup once before, in 2018

where you might remember they met England, lost 6-1 and Jesse Lingard Millirogg

Now this is unconfirmed because I am no seismologist, I believe that's the correct term

but when Panama scored their first goal at the World Cup in that same game

Despite being 6-0 down, the celebrations were picked up on local seismographs as an artificial earthquake

So, they like their football, they've just not been very good at it. As you might expect, the Panamanian League isn't the best either

And for that reason, only two of the players in their 26-man squad currently play their football at home

They do have players whose club sides are all over the world though Azerbaijan Saudi Arabia Uruguay Honduras Costa Rica Turkey Russia Venezuela Slovakia Israel Chile Ecuador Mexico and Norwich City

His name's Jose Cordoba, for those wondering, and he's a left back. The Panama squad on the whole could be the oldest of the 2026 World Cup

In fact, there's quite a few of these lads who played against England eight years ago. 13 of their players are aged 30 or older, which includes all three goalkeepers, two 35-year-olds

captain Anibal Godoy, 36, and real old-timer Alberto Quintero, 38 years young

Probably remembers the c getting built, he does. Ones to watch. I can't honestly say I've seen any of these players before

except for that previous England encounter, but I'd recommend knowing about the likes of Fidel Escobar

because that's one hell of a name, Amir Murillo, because it sounds a bit like that Peter Kay song from 20 years ago

and he's played for Marseille and elect in Bessictas. There's also Eric Davis, 35

spent eight years of his career in Slovakia, has over 100 caps and now plays for the Panamanian champs, Plaza Amador

who are probably the equivalent of a good National League side. Now, it's been said about me on a football pitch that I will run, but I'm not talented

And I get the feeling we're going to get much of the same from Panama. Lo siento, lads. Prove me wrong

But if none of those names pricked your ears up too much, then a few from the rest of the group are sure to

And that's because England find themselves alongside Ghana, a team who have appeared at four of the last five World Cups

and it's safe to say our modern African footballing heritage. In 2006, their first appearance, they had Michael Essien

Solomon Tari and Asamoah Gian. Four years later, they went all the way to the quarters

before Luis Suarez's cruel handball on the line stopped them becoming the first African country to make the semis

Since then, they've won just once in six attempts, all of which in the group stage

This current Ghana side has a real mix of youth and experience. Their preparations for this tournament have obviously been affected

by the absence of Mohamed Koudis, who would undoubtedly be the Black Stars' star name if he weren't injured

Of course, there is Antoine Semenyo coming off the back of the season of his life with Bournemouth and Manchester City

as well as the experienced striker Iñaki Williams of Athletic Club in Spain

We've also got Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu, who's been no stranger to the sublime and spectacular whilst with Leicester

and Kamaldin Suleymane, who on his day can cause you problems from the wing

My issue with this Ghana group is where are the goals coming from Semenyo somehow has just three international goals in 34 caps Surely an anomaly right You can stop scoring at club level It the same story for Inaki Williams though

25 caps and two goals. Even Fatawu. 27 caps, only three goals

Prior to their final warm-up friendly against Wales, Ghana had lost each of their last five games

against South Korea, Japan, Austria, Germany and Mexico. You know, the sorts of teams you're going to come up against at the World Cup

They've not been very good lately, they're not in form and they even missed out on qualifying

for AFCON, finishing bottom of their qualification group with no wins from six, behind Angola

Sudan and Niger. There's also a one to watch in Caleb Jarenki, purely from a transfers perspective

Scouts that I speak to in the game have mentioned him on several occasions, saying he's got the tools to one day become a future Premier League player

Jarenki is a great athlete and does it all in the middle of the park. Wins possession, plays passes, tackles, hassles opponents

useful grafter to have in year 11 which is why for Ghana he's often played at right back. But is

that alone going to be enough to trouble this England team? I think we all know the answer to

that. But you came to this channel for something different and hopefully nobody else has picked out

the Danish Superliga youngster in their pre-world cup ysis. What do you mean the Athletic have

done an exclusive with his grandmother? Now if you've made it this far into the video and you're

thinking yeah England have got a shot here, hold your horses because there's an old English World

World Cup before lurking. Video aside for a second, here's a hypothetical question for you

Imagine you're on your holidays during the World Cup or traveling somewhere for work and you can't

get your World Cup fix. You've got your TV license sorted to watch the BBC coverage in the UK but not

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All you have to do is click the link in the description to learn more. Modric, now he'll unleash one

We all know about England versus Croatia. Wayne Rooney at Euro 2004

Gary Neville's own goal in Zagreb. Saul Campbell's never-ending slide tackle. The wally with the brolly

Kieran Trippier's free kick. like Mario Mandzukic, Kane not squaring it to Sterling

We all know about England vs Croatia It not great history from a three lines perspective but at least England have beaten Croatia at a major tournament more recently than that semi out in Russia Sod law on

all that but in a 48 team World Cup where the collective strength of the group is poorer than

ever England would draw a team who knocked them out in a World Cup semi-final. There won't be

Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic this time around though. Actually there will be Ivan Perisic because

he doesn't age and will still be at a World Cup at 37. Still not as old as Luka Modric, 41 this year

kicking about at the pinnacle of world football. Class, men are class. Croatia weren't really tested all that much in qualifying

much like England. They went unbeaten, just like England, and finished with a goal difference of plus 22 from eight games

exactly like England. Their old guard, Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir

scored 12 of their goals during qualification. Croatia do have younger players

19-year-old Luka Vuskovic being one of them. The Spurs defender might be Croatia's answer to Harry Maguire

slab head itch, if you will. And if you want more of a deep dive on the centre-back who's spent the past year on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga

We've actually got a Boys A Bit Special video on him that you need to check out Basically, do not give away a corner when he's on the pitch

Because there's a good chance he'll score from it Voskovic is an absolute monster in the air and it has to be seen to be believed

So it's a good job England have a head coach He probably won't go route one in that opening game at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington or Dallas

And whatever they're calling it or wherever they're actually playing it There are other youngsters in this Croatia squad. Igor Matanovic has scored double figures this season in the Bundesliga

Martin Baturina helped Como qualify for the Champions League for the first time in Italy

While cousins Luka and Petr Suchic represent Real Sociedad and Inter Milan

For the most part, this is an experienced, settled squad. It's beatable, but I think it comes as no surprise to anyone that England's first group game will be their toughest

Potentially, until the round of 16. If you're also coming down with a severe case of World Cup fever, seek professional

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from the United States. We'll be out there covering the first kick to the last and we'd love to have you with us

comments and let us know what you thought about this video. Until next time, bye for now