England beats Panama with 17 shots and a strong second half, securing a spot in the World Cup knockout stages.
Last updated:England faced Panama in their final World Cup Group L match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Saturday, 27 June. The prime-time Saturday night fixture delivered a solid victory for Thomas Tuchel’s team, securing their place in the next phase of the tournament.
The Three Lions entered the match in a strong position with four points, following an opening win against Croatia and a tough draw against Ghana. They knew a professional performance would guarantee their spot in the Round of 32 as group winners. Tuchel relied on captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham to lead the team and break down the Central American defense.
Panama, managed by Thomas Christiansen, had a difficult task in East Rutherford. They were at the bottom of Group L with zero points and were already facing early elimination. Despite their efforts in previous games, they stepped onto the pitch playing strictly for national pride, attempting to frustrate the English attack.
The match ended with a decisive win for England. The team showed a clear improvement from the first to the second half, increasing their intensity and taking control of the game after the break. England dominated the offensive actions, producing 1.56 xGF (Expected Goals For) and registering a total of 17 shots.
With this steady second-half performance, England confirmed their technical advantage. They comfortably defeated Panama, collected all three points, and marched into the knockout stages as group winners.
See also England vs Croatia | England vs Ghana | England vs Congo DR | England vs Mexico
My bet: England vs Panama
At the time of writing, England are set to face Ecuador (who qualified as one of the best third-placed teams) in the round of 32. A few things could still change. If England finish second, they might face Portugal. Either way, Tuchel and the fans won’t expect the Three Lions to go easy.
Panama are the weakest side in Group L. They lost their first two matches 1-0 to Ghana and Croatia, consistently registering under 0.75 xGF. Against Croatia, they conceded 1.65 xGA from just 6 shots. Meanwhile, they allowed 7 shots and 1.25 xGA against Ghana. In other words, they concede a high xGA per shot, but don’t actually give away too many shots.
Watching from Brazil, I believe England will push hard for a strong result. The Three Lions battered Croatia in their opening match, winning 4-2 with 3.20 xGF and 22 shots. In the second game against Ghana, despite a 0-0 draw, they managed 1.36 xGF from 19 shots. The team gets forward, creates chances, and produces well offensively.
The only England player who performed well in both games was Harry Kane, looking solid throughout, even though he missed a big chance against Ghana.
Everyone expects an attacking display from England, including the bookies, who are offering short odds of 1/10 and a -2.25 Asian Handicap. We all expect Kane to deliver too. However, I’m looking at a different market.
England have been playing heavily through the wings, taking plenty of shots and winning a lot of corners. They had 8 and 9 corners in their first two matches.
My bet: England Over 6.5 corners @ 3/4 with William Hill.
Author:
Lucas Portela
Owner, BoldGambler • Avanhandava/SP
Oddsmaker, affiliate and content creator in the iGaming industry.