Fifa World Cup - Russia 2018

England vs Panama match build up #WorldCup

Raheem Sterling is likely to start for England in Sunday’s World Cup Group G game against Panama. Pictures of assistant manager Steve Holland’s training notes seemed to indicate the forward would be dropped for Marcus Rashford.

England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that midfielder Dele Alli will miss out with a thigh injury picked up in the 2-1 win over Tunisia.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is likely to replace him in the starting XI on Sunday. England will secure a last-16 place with a win in Nizhny Novgorod – the game, which kicks off at 13:00 BST

Alli started training with the main group on Saturday but was withdrawn after warm-ups to work individually. “He started training with the rest of the group and then did some more running on his own, so he’s progressing really well,” said Southgate.

“We’re really pleased with where he is at, but he wouldn’t be ready for the game tomorrow.” Manchester City forward Sterling started England’s opening game victory over Tunisia on Monday but was replaced by Manchester United’s Rashford in the 68th minute.

The 23-year-old has scored only twice in 39 internationals and has not netted in his past 21. World Cup debutants Panama were beaten 3-0 by Belgium in their opening match. Coach Hernan Dario Gomez has already confirmed he will field the same XI against England.

England

  • 1Pickford
  • 2Walker
  • 5Stones
  • 6Maguire
  • 8Henderson
  • 12Trippier
  • 21Loftus-Cheek
  • 7Lingard
  • 18Young
  • 10Sterling
  • 9Kane

Substitutes

  • 3Rose
  • 4Dier
  • 11Vardy
  • 13Butland
  • 14Welbeck
  • 15Cahill
  • 16Jones
  • 17Delph
  • 19Rashford
  • 20Alli
  • 22Alexander-Arnold
  • 23Pope

Panama

  • 1Penedo
  • 2Murillo
  • 5R Torres
  • 4Escobar
  • 15Davis
  • 6Gómez
  • 8Bárcenas
  • 11Cooper
  • 20Godoy
  • 21JL Rodriguez
  • 7Pérez

Substitutes

  • 3Cummings
  • 9G Torres
  • 10Diaz
  • 12Calderón
  • 13Machado
  • 14Pimentel
  • 16Arroyo
  • 17Ovalle
  • 18Tejada
  • 19Avila
  • 22A Rodríguez
  • 23Baloy
Referee:Ghead Grisha

OVERVIEW

Harry Kane’s last-minute intervention got England off to a flying start and gave them a win in their opening game of a major tournament for the first time since the 2006 World Cup, when they beat Paraguay. At times against Tunisia it wasn’t pretty, or perfect, but with a bit more luck, composure and favourable decisions they would have won with ease.

The Panamanians played to type in their opening game with Belgium. Los Canaleros (The Canal Men) were aggressive, robust, but ultimately hugely outclassed. The Belgians knew they had been in a game, though, and complained afterwards about some of the tackles that were flying in.

“I don’t know what people are complaining about,” captain Roman Torres said. “Football is like that – you always have to impose yourself, you have to mark out your territory.”

Their coach Hernan Dario Gomez was in charge of Colombia when they lost 2-0 to England at France 1998. His opposite number in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, Gareth Southgate, was on the bench.

VIEW FROM BOTH CAMPS

England manager Gareth Southgate: “To play with the freedom, energy and pace that we did was as good as anything I have seen in the tournament up to this point.

“Every team will want to improve but we hit a level that is comparable to anything that I’ve seen. The team that we selected for the first game performed as well as I can remember us playing with the ball in the first hour of the game.”

Panama defender Harold Cummings: “We are going there to play hard.

“We are going there to compete. We will do our job against any team we face.”

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

When I was at their game against Belgium in Sochi, I saw that Panama will give everything they have got, but we also saw their limitations as a team.

England should beat them easily enough and I don’t see them having too many problems, especially after they make the initial breakthrough.

Prediction: 3-0