Thomas Tuchel warns of ‘complex game’ for England against Panama

Thomas Tuchel warned England face a “complex” final World Cup group game against eliminated Panama as he continues to seek the “recipe” to breaking down defence-minded teams.

Excitement and expectations around the Euro 2024 runners-up grew after they started this summer’s shot at glory with a swashbuckling 4-2 victory against Croatia in Dallas.

But Tuesday’s underwhelming 0-0 draw with Ghana dampened the mood, with Tuchel’s side failing to find a spark in their bid to break down a low block in Boston.

England face a similar challenge in Saturday’s MetLife Stadium meeting with Panama, who are 42nd in FIFA’s world rankings – 23 spots higher than the Black Stars.

“We will face another deep block in another kind of formation,” Tuchel said. “We now see a back five. For many moments in the match we see a back six, we see a back seven.

“Normally we try to overload parts and areas in the match, try to overload and then accelerate quickly in this moment of overload.

“There was no overload against Ghana. There will very likely be no overload against Panama.”

Tuchel continued: “I haven’t found the recipe where ‘they do this, then we do this – and then we are fine’.

“We will try to find a very active and aggressive approach now against Panama, but we cannot just be stupid and naive.”

Tuchel’s side are assured of a place in the knockout phase after Friday’s fixtures, but must equal or better Ghana’s result against Croatia to top Group L.

England are favourites to triumph at MetLife Stadium but this is expected to be a far tougher test than in 2018, when Sir Gareth Southgate’s outfit won 6-1 in Panama’s first World Cup.

“We see a well-coached, well-drilled team from a coach who’s there now for five, six years,” boss Tuchel said. “You just see a clear identity.

“They are in the world ranking, I think, on the same level as Wales and Serbia, so it’s not the most famous, most well-known football nation, most glamorous football name, but they were strong in this group.

“They can play in the role of an underdog, they can play without any pressure, so that’s what we expect. It’s a complex game.”

Tuchel has selection decisions to make as he seeks to balance England’s need to top the group with keeping the squad fresh before starting what will be a taxing knockout stage.

Bukayo Saka could make his first start of the tournament having fully recovered from an Achilles issue, while Arsenal team-mate Declan Rice has overcome a niggle but is on a booking.

Fellow midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is set to make a mega-money move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, has also overcome a knock but a hamstring issue rules out Reece James.

“Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice were in full training (on Friday),” Tuchel added.

“They both had minor issues after the match but had enough time to recover, so everyone except for Reece James is available and ready to go, and we will take the decision (on Friday night).”