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World Cup News :: FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group L Preview - England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

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Posted on 2026-06-08 by Auls

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Like many of the Groups at the 2026 World Cup Finals, there are some lopsided looks to Group L with the two European teams looking far too strong for the rivals they have to face in this section.

England and Croatia meet in the opening fixture in Group L, but they will both be very confident in beating Ghana and Panama and the opener may actually decide the final position within the section.

ENGLAND

Back to back European Championship Finals have seen England come up short, while they were beaten in the Semi Final at the World Cup in 2018 and Quarter Final in 2022.

All of those tournaments were played under Gareth Southgate, but the fans were not happy that he was unable to take England across the line and a new direction was sought.

The Football Association allowed Southgate to make his own decision, but the manager decided to move on and England have turned to Thomas Tuchel to lead them going forward.

Unconvincing displays have been pretty common over the last couple of years and England’s squad selection has meant plenty of criticism in Tuchel’s direction. Pressure has increased with England expecting, but you do have to wonder if the lack of really competitive football since Euro 2024 and the defeat to Spain could prove costly for England.

They should still have enough quality to avoid an embarrassing Group Stage exit from the World Cup for the first time since 2014, but the real judgement will come as the tournament progresses.

CROATIA

An ageing Croatia squad is the biggest rival to England and this is a nation that have seemingly been able to raise their levels on the World Cup stage.

Croatia have suffered Last 16 exits in Euro 2016 and 2020, while they failed to make it out of the Group Stage two years ago.

However, during those years they have reached the World Cup Final in 2018 and Semi Final in 2022 and the likes of Luka Modric are aiming for one more big push. Experience is not going to be the problem, but conditions are going to be tough for the older players in the squad.

Despite that, Croatia continue to punch above their weight and they should make it through to the Knock Out Rounds.

GHANA

Ghana are third favourites in the Group, but they have struggled since Qualifying for the World Cup and this is not a team with the same qualities as those that reached the Quarter Final at the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Only a controversial Luis Suarez moment prevented Ghana from becoming the first nation from the African continent to reach the World Cup Finals, but they failed to Qualify for the last African Cup of Nations.

There is some quality in the squad, notably Antoine Semenyo, but Ghana’s best hope may be finishing as one of the best third place teams and the opening fixture against Panama is going to be key with that in mind.

PANAMA

For the second time in three World Cup Finals, Panama have made it through Qualification, although this time they benefited from having three nations from the Confederation co-hosting and not being involved.

Panama will take confidence from finishing Runners Up at the last Nations League, but this is a considerable step up in terms of level.

They lost all three games in the 2018 World Cup Finals, but Panama arrive in the United States unbeaten in Qualifying and that will give them confidence.

Panama have been an improving nation in the last few years and Panama’s knowledge of the conditions makes them dangerous, especially for a Ghana team travelling over to face them in the first fixture in this Group.

GROUP SUMMARY

It would be a real surprise if England and Croatia do not finish in the top two positions in this Group, while the opening fixture could determine the final finishing positions.

Both Ghana and Panama may feel they can cause an upset or two, but the opening game against one another is massively important- someone needs to win that fixture to have any hope of earning a spot in the Last 32 as one of the best third place finishers and that could be an entertaining fixture.

Picking up an upset against one of the top two nations will be the challenge, but avoiding big defeats could also help in the ultimate ambition of Qualifying.

Panama could cause that surprise, but Ghana have qualities of their own and that makes that opening fixture fascinating for the neutral.

With the increase of nations taking part in the World Cup Finals from thirty-two to forty-eight, it does mean short prices in the Groups, especially ones like Group L that have such a lopsided look.

The price on Panama to Qualify is just 2.75, but they would likely have to beat Ghana to do that, while the same can be said for the African representative.

Picking the winner from that opening fixture is a bigger price than the either team to simply Qualify and it would be very difficult to imagine them doing so without winning that fixture before taking on Croatia and England.

England are an awful 1.28 to win the Group, but they should have enough as long as they avoid defeat in the opener against Croatia.

Backing England to finish above Croatia is 1.83 and that may be the stronger play in Group L, although it’s not a price that will appeal to all.

 

Sourced From : Gooners Guide to Group Betting at the FIFA World Cup Betting

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