England find themselves in a commanding position in Group L after an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia, which was widely seen as their toughest group-stage challenge.

The Three Lions will next face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday before wrapping up their group campaign against Panama in New York on Saturday.

The key question, however, is whether a win over Ghana would be enough to confirm England’s place in the knockout rounds.

Beating Ghana would take England to six points from two matches, placing them three points ahead of Ghana, who managed a late 1-0 win over Panama in their opening fixture.

Assuming Croatia defeat Panama after England’s match, the Croatians would move three points behind England, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s side firmly in control of the group.

A victory over Ghana would not only secure England’s passage to the Round of 32 but also confirm them as Group L winners.

This is due to FIFA’s updated rules, which now prioritise head-to-head results over goal difference when teams finish level on points in the group stage.

Under the old system, England could still have been overtaken by either Croatia or Ghana—though not both—on goal difference even with six points from three matches. But with the new head-to-head rule, a win in their second game would make it mathematically impossible for either rival to surpass them.

That should serve as ample motivation for England to get the job done in Boston and secure a potentially smoother route through the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Should England top Group L, they will face one of the third-placed teams from Groups E, H, I, J, or K in the Round of 32. As things stand, that could pit them against sides such as Cape Verde, Uruguay, Senegal, Algeria, or DR Congo, among other possibilities.