England head into their final Group L match against Panama knowing that a win will secure them top spot, but they will be without star right-back Reece James.
Thomas Tuchel’s side got off to a great start, defeating Croatia 4-2 in their opening game.
Harry Kane led the way with two goals from the penalty spot and added a second before half-time to equal Gary Lineker on England’s 10th World Cup goal list.
Jude Bellingham also restored England’s advantage after the break with a strong finish into the net, and Marcus Rashford rounded out the win with England’s fourth goal late on.
Croatia twice reduced the deficit thanks to the efforts of Martin Baturina and Petar Moussa, but England always looked capable of another fightback.
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The Three Lions finished the game with 20 shots on goal and made an impressive start in Group L as Tuchel’s attacking team caused problems throughout the game.
England failed to build on that result in quite the same way against Ghana.
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Despite having the majority of possession and territory, the Three Lions ended up in a scoreless draw.
England struggled to break down Ghana’s disciplined defense and created fewer clear-cut chances than against Croatia.
Jordan Pickford was used at times to keep England’s clean sheet, while Nico O’Reilly and Harry Kane had a string of brilliant late chances.
Jude Bellingham was also lucky to avoid a red card for covering his mouth.
The draw gives England four points from their opening two games and puts them in control of their own destiny heading into the final group game against Panama.
This is one of the concerns that will emerge in the match against Ghana, which will center around James.
The Chelsea defender started both of England’s World Cup opening games, playing the full 90 minutes against Croatia and again in the draw against Ghana.
James has become one of Tuchel’s most trusted players since the former Chelsea manager took charge of England.
His ability to function as both a traditional full-back and an attacking wing-back added further flexibility to England’s right flank.
The 26-year-old has also had an impressive domestic campaign.
James made nearly 40 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea during the 2025/26 season, contributing at both ends of the pitch with goals, assists and consistently strong defending.
However, James reported a hamstring strain after the draw with Ghana.
The defender did not have enough practice with the rest of the team for the match against Panama. Instead, he completed a personal recovery program under the supervision of England’s medical staff.
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BBC Sport reported that there are now concerns that James could miss England’s round of 32 games if the Three Lions qualify for the knockout stages.
The defender is expected to miss at least two games due to a hamstring injury, according to reports.
This means James will miss the match against Panama and will now face a race against time to qualify for England’s first knock-out tournament.
Given James’ importance in England’s defensive structure, his absence will be a major setback for Tuchel.
England are already without Newcastle United defender Tino Libramento, leaving Tuchel with fewer options in defense on the right.
Players such as Jed Spence, Ezri Konsa and Jarrell Quansah could fill the position if needed, but there is a lack of natural full-backs.
England’s immediate focus remains on finishing the group stage with a strong result and securing a place in the knockout stages.
A win against Panama would confirm their place at the top of Group L and extend England’s unbeaten record in the competition.
However, James’ fitness will continue to be one of the team’s biggest talking points over the coming days.
BBC Sport reports that there is genuine concern that England will have to cope without one of their first-choice defenders from the group stage onwards, as Tuchel awaits further updates on his hamstring problem.
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The Gunners are ready to begin formal negotiations.
