Panama vs England Predictions

• Panama have had 19 shots at the World Cup
• England have conceded in three of their last six games
• Both teams have scored in five of Panama’s last seven games

England looking for a response against Panama

England were brought back down to earth on Tuesday night as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana but they are at least guaranteed a top two finish ahead of their final Group L game against Panama on Saturday.

The Three Lions cannot finish any lower than second place and they are facing a Panama side who have already been eliminated. However, Los Canaleros can still make a bit of history before they head home by claiming a first World Cup point – having lost all five of their previous games in the main draw of the tournament.

Goals at both ends the value angle

A win would ensure England finish in top spot in the group and they should be able to claim the three points, but Panama will be keen to at least get on the scoresheet and they will keep attacking even if the game is beyond them.

The Central American nation will probably adopt a similar approach to Ghana in the early stages of the game as they battle for a point. The Three Lions were unable to make a breakthrough against the Black Stars and that is a concern, but they have also had a full 90 minutes facing a side who have defended in numbers and they may be able to edge ahead fairly early against Panama, who don’t boast the same level of individual quality as Ghana.

An early goal could then open the game up and Panama have shown enough to suggest they can get on the scoresheet, despite drawing blanks against Ghana and Croatia. Los Canaleros were incredibly unlucky to lose to the African nation and for large periods of that game they looked the more likely winners, while they also created some chances against a good Croatia side.

England may take a narrow win

On paper, this final group game could be considered England’s most straightforward assignment but Panama can keep it fairly tight and a 2-1 win for Thomas Tuchel’s side is the pick.

Panama have only lost one of their last 23 games by more than one goal, a 6-2 friendly defeat to Brazil, and have kept things on the right side of respectable against a couple of strong teams, including 1-0 defeats to Croatia and Mexico.

England looked exceptional against Croatia but then struggled against Ghana and they may end up somewhere in the middle against Panama, particularly as they don’t need to put in maximum effort with progress already assured.

Tuchel could opt to make a few changes to his team but Harry Kane will almost certainly start and he can put a below-par game against Ghana behind him with an anytime effort against Panama. Kane scored twice against Croatia and the Bayern Munich man has scored in 13 of his last 16 games for club and country.