Football Today

·26 June 2026

England are set to take on Panama in their final group-stage encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New Jersey on Saturday evening.

The Three Lions require a victory to top Group L after a goalless draw against Ghana in their previous outing.

Here, we examine three crucial changes manager Thomas Tuchel should implement before the match.

Tuchel has remained loyal to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, but a shift to a more offensive 4-3-3 system could serve England better against Panama.

Given Panama’s limited attacking threat, a double pivot in midfield appears unnecessary. The full-backs should also be allowed more freedom to advance higher up the field.

Declan Rice has struggled to find form at the start of this tournament and has been managing a hamstring issue for six months, raising concerns about his fitness.

The Arsenal midfielder should be given a rest ahead of the round of 32, with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo taking his place.

Mainoo brings energy and dynamism to the midfield, attributes that could prove vital in unlocking Panama’s compact defensive structure.

Antony Gordon and Noni Madueke have featured as England’s wingers in their first two matches but have failed to make a significant impact.

Tuchel prefers productive wing partnerships and cannot afford to persist with two underperforming wide players.

Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford should be brought in, as both offer far greater attacking potency and creativity in the final third.