World Cup 2026: Group L Preview

Preview to Group L

ENGLAND

MANAGER: Thomas Tuchel

FIFA RANKING: 4

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 16

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Winners - 1966

After going close in each of the last four tournaments, is this the tournament where England finally end their 60 years of hurt? They'll be right among the favourites to win this tournament after going close in recent tournaments and having a 100% record in qualifying where they also kept a clean sheet in every game. They have a proven winner in charge in Thomas Tuchel and his mission the moment he got the job was to win the World Cup.

KEY PLAYER: Harry Kane

Position: Striker

Club: Bayern Munich

Kane will again come into this tournament as England's talisman because of the difference he makes for them when he's on the pitch. The Three Lions' record goal scorer comes into this tournament in arguably his best shape yet and with the season he's just had ay Bayern, he'll no doubt have his sights set on another golden boot.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Declan Rice

Position: Midfielder

Club: Arsenal

Rice has been one of the best all-round midfielders in the world over the last few years because of his energy and tenacity on the pitch. He'll play with a more freedom at this tournament now he has an actual no.6 next to him in Elliot Anderson who will give him the licence to push up more.

PREDICTION: Quarter Finals

The objective is to win the whole thing after going very close in recent tournaments and especially as they now have a proven winner as manager. But I think they'll fall short again against top opposition.

CROATIA

MANAGER: Zlatko Dalic

FIFA RANKING: 11

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 6

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Runners Up - 2018

Croatia have upset the odds at each of the last two World Cups by finishing runners up in 2018 and finishing third in 2022. Doing so again at this World Cup will be tricky because they're an ageing side which they showed at the Euros two years ago as they went out at the group stages. Luka Modric is now 40, Ivan Perisic is 37 and Ante Budimir and Adrej Kramaric are both 34. There are a few younger players in their squad including 19 year old defender Luka Vuskovic who is expected to start. But this tournament could mark the end of an era for Croatia's golden generation.

KEY PLAYER: Josko Gvardiol

Position: Left Back

Club: Man City

Gvardiol was one of the rising stars at the last World Cup as his solid performance at the back played a key role in Croatia finishing third. He's been used at both centre back and left back since that tournament and has been reliable wherever he's been asked to play because of his reading of the game.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Nikola Vlasic

Position: Midfielder

Club: Torino

Vlasic scored 8 times for Torino in Serie A last season and he'll be looking to carry that form into this tournament. Croatia will need someone to step up as their go-to midfielder soon with Modric now at the end of his international career and Vlasic could be that player at this tournament.

PREDICTION: Last 32

They might be an ageing team, but they should still have enough quality to get out the group. But I don't see them repeat what they did four and eight years ago because there are stronger teams.

GHANA

MANAGER: Carlos Queiroz

FIFA RANKING: 74

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 4

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Quarter Finals - 2010

Ghana come into this World Cup as arguably the least prepared team as they appointed manager Carlos Queiroz just two months before the tournament starts after sacking Otto Addo at the end of March following a poor run of results. Queiroz does have a good squad of players on paper, but he's had very little time to work with them after arriving in April. He'll managing at his fifth World Cup this summer and managing Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014 and 2018 before returning for a second spell in 2022.

KEY PLAYER: Antoine Semenyo

Position: Winger

Club: Man City

Semenyo will be Ghana's main man at this tournament following a highly productive season for both Bournemouth and Man City. If he can carry his club form into this tournament, Ghana could cause some surprises and maybe even go as far as they did in 2010.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Brandon Thomas-Asante

Position: Forward

Club: Coventry

Thomas-Asante will be playing Premier League football with Coventry next season and his performances in this tournament could determine if he's ready to make the step up. He's quick, tricky, a good carrier of the ball and can play anywhere across the frontline. His versatility could be a key weapon for Ghana at this tournament.

PANAMA

MANAGER: Thomas Christiansen

FIFA RANKING: 33

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 1

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Group Stage - 2018

Panama return for their second appearance at a World Cup finals and they come into it hoping to be more competitive than they were last time. They've been a well-drilled and tough to beat side since Thomas Christiansen first took over and they're going to set up like that at this World Cup becausse of the quality of sides they'll be up against including England. They lost 3-0 to Belgium and 6-1 to England in 2018 but this time their games won't be as one-sided.

KEY PLAYER: Adalberto Carrasquilla

Position: Midfielder

Club: Pumas

Carrasquilla has everything you want from a midfield player in that he's strong, a good carrier of the ball, a good passer of the ball and is good at winning it back for his team. He'll be heavily involved in Panama's attacking build up play.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ismael Diaz

Position: Winger

Club: Leon

Diaz was the top goal scorer at the Gold Cup last summer with 6 goals and Panama will need him to repeat that form at this tournament if they're going to make it out the group. Their attack doesn't have many goals in it so he'll need to step up on that front whenever they need someone to.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They'll make it difficult for teams by being tough to beat and well organised defensively. But with the other teams being far superior in terms of quality, I think they'll go home early.