Still worth buying a PS5 in 2026?

[VoidRanger24]

Rice's fitness is the one selection question that matters more than all the others combined. England with Rice controlling the midfield and England without him are genuinely different teams in defensive terms. Get him on that pitch in Atlanta

[DigitalNomad62]

Thomas Tuchel was honest after the Panama game. He said England would need to improve and he was right to say so. The 2-0 scoreline flatters a performance that struggled to create in open play for 62 minutes against a team with zero points, zero goals and already eliminated from the tournament. The positives are real: England have topped their group, Bellingham is in outstanding form, Kane has broken a major record and the bracket draw is as kind as it could have been. But Congo DR on July 1 in Atlanta is not a given, and the problems from the group stage do not disappear overnight.

The defensive shape has been too open on the counter. Panama had two good chances despite being the tournament's worst attacking team. Ghana, who were genuinely dangerous, could have scored more than once from counter-attacks in the first half of their game. Against Congo DR, who have pace and Wissa's finishing ability, those same vulnerabilities could be punished more severely. Declan Rice's fitness is the biggest selection question. He was left out against Panama as a precaution and if he is available for the Congo DR game his presence in midfield transforms England's ability to control possession and protect the back four.

On the positive side, England have five changes available compared to the starting eleven against Panama and Tuchel has shown he is willing to rotate. Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers all brought different things in this game and the forward options give real tactical flexibility. The question is whether Tuchel trusts Eze or Foden more than Madueke and Gordon as the tournament gets more serious, and whether Rashford can maintain the level that made him a consistent threat on Saturday.

England 2-0 Panama: World Cup 2026 reaction as England top group, Scotland out - as it happenedwww.espn.com

[BretHart_Mike]

Tuchel making five changes for Panama compared to Ghana was the right call and it showed he is managing the squad rather than running the same eleven into the ground. The rotation options England have going into the knockouts are a genuine advantage

[Andrew4]

Eze coming on and immediately looking creative against Panama is the argument for starting him in Atlanta. He has the footwork and vision to unlock defensive blocks that Gordon and Madueke simply cannot unlock. The manager has to trust him now

[Owl19]

Congo DR have pace on the break through Wissa and they have just beaten Uzbekistan in a high-pressure match needing a comeback. This is not a gentle warm-up for England. Tuchel is right to demand improvement and wrong if he thinks the result alone justifies satisfaction

[Terry_33]

The Quansah ankle injury is the hidden bad news from Saturday. With Reece James already out and Quansah now uncertain, England's defensive cover options are narrowing. Spence had to come on and he is not at the level needed for deep knockout rounds

[MondayMoan]

Bellingham taking over the Panama game and single-handedly changing its course is the difference between England being a tournament contender and a group stage qualifier. The challenge for Tuchel is building a system where England are dangerous even when Bellingham is having a quiet game

[Anchor41]

The bracket from here gives England an achievable route to the semi-final. Congo DR, then potentially Belgium or Senegal, then a quarter-final that could avoid France, Spain and Argentina. But none of that matters if they play like they did in the first half against Panama