England take on familiar faces in the group stages of this World Cup, both in terms of nations and players.
Croatia are England’s first opponents, with revenge on the mind eight years after the Three Lions lost 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
Ghana then boast one of the Premier League’s biggest threats, while Panama will have Harry Kane dreaming of another hat-trick.
But will it be smooth sailing into the round of 32 for Thomas Tuchel and England? Here is the lowdown on their Group L opponents… Yes, there’s a Group L.
Croatia
Luka Vuskovic is Tottenham’s teenage centre-back wanted by Brighton (Photo: Getty)Fifa ranking: 11
Quick fact: Luka Modric is one of eight players at this World Cup aged 40 or over.
When do England play Croatia? 17 June, 9pm UK time.
You will probably hear pundits muse over whether Croatia’s powers are fading. Finalists at the 2018 World Cup, third four years later, it was their abrupt Euro 2024 group-stage exit which signalled this aging squad are in need of a facelift.
Luka Modric, on 198 caps, is now 40 but remains an integral member of this team, while strikers Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric are 37 and 34 respectively.
Croatia will be leaning on experience heavily, therefore, with Kramaric (six) and Perisic (four) leading the way for goals in their World Cup qualifiers.
And what of the next generation? Expect 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic to start, the Tottenham Hotspur centre-back who has recently been linked with Brighton & Hove Albion, while Manchester City’s 24-year-old Josko Gvardiol is set to have the task of sticking to Kane like glue.
They’ll be confident of beating England again, but recent friendly defeats to Belgium (2-0) and Brazil (3-1) prove they are not impenetrable.
Ghana
Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada (Photo: Getty)Fifa ranking: 73
Quick fact: Ghana sacked coach Otto Addo just 72 days before the World Cup.
When do England play Ghana? 23 June, 9pm.
Winless in six games, including a 1-1 friendly draw with Wales earlier this month, Ghana were out of form heading into the World Cup – sparking a managerial change.
Enter Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Manchester United assistant who has travelled the world and then some, managing (deep breath) Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, Iran again, Qatar and then Oman since 2008.
Queiroz will lean heavily on Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, the winger who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best players, while striker Inaki Williams could prove a handful.
Ghana are though without winger Mohammed Kudus due to injury, likewise Mohammed Salisu and Alexander Djiku, meaning they arrive in North America under strength.
Thomas Partey has travelled, however, and despite the former Arsenal midfielder being denied entry into Canada for Ghana’s opener against Panama – the 32-year-old faces a trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault – he is set to face England in Boston.
Panama
Cesar Yanis is the smallest player at this World Cup (Photo: Getty)Fifa ranking: 34
Quick fact: Panama playmaker Cesar Yanis is the smallest player at this World Cup. At 5ft 3ins he is 16 inches shorter than England’s 6ft 7ins Dan Burn.
When do England play Panama? 27 June, 10pm.
If this fixture sounds familiar, that’ll be because it’s a repeat of 2018, when England ran out 6-1 winners in the group stages in Russia – Kane scoring a hat-trick on that occasion.
Eight years later, Panama are back for their second World Cup, are chasing a first-ever point, and have one of the oldest squads, the average age ticking over 30 along with Colombia and Iran.
Their best player? Arguably right-back Michael Amir Murillo of Besiktas, while their biggest threat is Ismael Diaz, the winger currently playing for Leon in Mexico, the country where midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla also plays.
Carrasquilla ranks as one of the nation’s greatest ever players, becoming the first Panamanian to win Concacaf’ men’s player of the year award back in 2024.
No strangers to the heat with a squad who play club football predominantly in the Americas, their best chance of a shock against England will be hoping their opponents wilt at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Panama beat USA last year and in 2024, but even a point against England would rank as their greatest result. They lost 6-2 to Brazil in a May friendly.
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