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England struggle in Ghana stalemate and Ronaldo gets off the mark
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Panama Preview: Lineup Changes and a Chance to Rotate
At 24:00 · chapter starts 21:54
With Panama eliminated on head-to-head grounds after losing 1-0 to Croatia, Gary Lineker frames the third group game as England's opportunity to manage their squad and give fringe players meaningful minutes [1] — Gary Lineker "Panama's 1-0 loss to Croatia means they're already eliminated on head-to-head, making the England game a dead rubber for them. The panel is…" 21:54 . The debate over how much to rotate is spirited. Micah Richards would start Marcus Rashford and give Ollie Watkins a run, potentially resting Kane for part of the game — though Harry Maguire interjects quickly that Kane would never want to be rested, and the group isn't mathematically over. Joe Cole makes the case for getting the backup strikers, such as Watkins, on the pitch specifically because strikers need competitive involvement to stay sharp — if Kane picks up a knock, England need players who are match-ready. Patrick Vieira agrees England need to win the game but believes Kane is untouchable from the starting eleven, given how much his physical rhythm feeds his effectiveness. The broad consensus is that the Panama game offers a chance to run a more creative lineup — possibly with Rodgers at 10 — and give the whole squad a sense of shared ownership of the tournament.
Panama lost 1-0 to Croatia, meaning they cannot progress from the group even if they beat England, due to head-to-head rules.
Panama's 1-0 loss to Croatia means they're already eliminated on head-to-head, making the England game a dead rubber for them. The panel is divided on how much Tuchel should rotate — but most agree it's time to give Watkins and Rashford a start.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 at the 2026 World Cup.
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan in Portugal's 5-0 win, netting in a record sixth World Cup. His movement for the first goal was vintage Ronaldo — still the best in the world at finding a yard in the box, according to Gary Lineker.
