England enters the tournament with many expectations under the guidance of coach Thomas Tuchel. The German coach is gradually building a new playing style for the "Three Lions" with a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on controlling the midfield.
In this system, the two full-backs are often tied to the center when the home team holds the ball, creating conditions for Declan Rice to participate in supporting the attack more, while Jude Bellingham is given freedom in the front line. In attack, Harry Kane continues to play the leading role thanks to his scoring ability and connecting play.
Despite possessing a quality squad with many stars playing at top European clubs, England still showed some problems in recent friendly matches. Unexpected results against Japan and Uruguay partly reflect the team's dependence on Harry Kane.
If the striker currently playing for Bayern Munich is not in the best physical condition, England's attacking power may be significantly affected. However, considering the balance of power in Group L, the "Three Lions" are still considered the top candidates for the top spot.
England's most formidable opponent is Croatia. The clash between the two teams in the opening match of the group is expected to recreate the match in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Although many key players have entered the final stage of their careers, Croatia still maintains its identity with disciplined play and rich experience in major tournaments. At the age of 40, Luka Modric continues to be a spiritual leader and plays an important role in the playing style of the checkered shirt team.
Under the guidance of coach Zlatko Dalic, Croatia has always shown bravery in major tournaments for many years and is assessed as capable of competing for the top spot in the group with England.
Meanwhile, Ghana enters the 2026 World Cup with many difficulties. The African team has just made a change on the coaching bench when Carlos Queiroz replaced Otto Addo. In addition, the injury of star Mohammed Kudus also significantly affected the strength of this team.
Panama is rated lower than the remaining opponents but is still considered a team that can create surprises thanks to their energetic playing style and determined fighting spirit.
With the current balance of power, England and Croatia are holding many advantages in the race to qualify for the knockout round. However, the competition for the top spot in Group L is predicted to be exciting as both teams possess players who are capable of making a difference at important times.
