England vs Panama prediction as Three Lions look to bounce back with strong Group L finish

England vs Panama prediction as Three Lions look to bounce back with strong Group L finish

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England fans, predictably, didn't take the 0-0 draw with Ghana very well.

Thomas Tuchel's side toiled against the Black Stars after defeating Croatia in their World Cup opener but unlike their neighbours to the north, are still in pole position to make the knockouts.

Panama and England will do battle at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey today, in a repeat of a meeting between the two countries at the 2018 World Cup. England will of course be hoping for a similar scoreline.

England vs Panama predictions

On paper, this is as straightforward a fixture as it gets at a major tournament. Powerhouse versus minnow, David versus Goliath - but as the story goes, it doesn't always turn out the way you'd expect.

That said, England have to get a result today, or risk sending their 2026 World Cup campaign into a tailspin. The group isn't sewn up yet, despite leading the standings therefore victory is essential.

Ghana have the chance to pull off a surprise and top Group L, if England slip up and Croatia are vanquished in the other game which kicks off at the same time.

What will be key for England is an early goal. If Tuchel's men can hit the front during the first half, the pressure will lift, the crowd will ease up and the goals should flow.

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Panama are no match for the world-class stars of the English national team but for many of the Canaleros players, this is the game of their lives.

Still, we can't honestly say we expect the Latin Americans to get anything from this fixture, which means they will be exiting the tournament.

If England want to book their place in the Round of 32 at the Atlanta Stadium on July 1, they know what they need to do.

England vs Panama score prediction

Panama were no match for England last time these two met and we expect much of the same today, even if the Three Lions' attack was thwarted by Ghana.

It probably doesn't need to be a hammering but it certainly wouldn't hurt morale.

Score prediction: England 4-0 Panama

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