England Hub
England will hope to seal top spot in their World Cup group with victory on Saturday against Panama. The Central American side are a relatively unknown quantity, but they are an exciting team whose results do not paint a true picture of their performances in the tournament.
Why England should be wary of Panama's hybrid tactics
Panama have taken a dynamic approach depending on the phase of play the game is in. From opposition goal-kicks, Panama have stepped up to press aggressively in a 4-4-2 shape.
Panama's many shapes
If the opponents have quality on the ball and find themselves in possession higher up the pitch, Panama's high press falls into a mid-block, and they move from a 4-4-2 into a 5-3-2. Their focus is on making it hard for teams to play through them.
Will England be able to play their own way?
England are a side that will relish the prospect of playing a team that push up the pitch - if Panama do try to press. Last result: England 4-2 Croatia (2026-06-17).
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Croatia | 4-2 |
Playing around Panama
Panama are an 'in-between' version of Ghana and Croatia defensively and may have more success if they adopt a style closer to that of the Africans against England. Recent form (last 4): 2W-0D-2L (WWLL, most recent first); on a 2-game winning run.
Next fixture: vs Spain (at home, 2026-09-26).
