Who could England face in last 32 after qualifying for next round?
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- England confirmed their place in the World Cup last 32 before Saturday's final Group L match against Panama, sitting on four points after beating Croatia 4-2 and drawing 0-0 with Ghana.
- Uruguay's defeat by Spain was the result that mathematically secured England's progression, guaranteeing the Three Lions at least one of the eight best third-placed qualification spots.
- If England top Group L by matching or bettering Ghana's result against Croatia, they will face a third-placed team — most likely DR Congo (pending their result against Uzbekistan) or Senegal.
- A second-place finish in Group L would set up a last-32 match against Portugal, currently second in Group K, while a third-place finish and loss to Panama would pit England against Group K leaders Colombia.
- Reece James will miss the Panama fixture with a hamstring injury suffered against Ghana, while Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Elliot Anderson are all available despite recent training absences.
- Four other teams — Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Paraguay — also sit on four points heading into the final round of group matches.
Why it matters: England's knockout bracket hinges entirely on Saturday's two simultaneous Group L kick-offs: a top finish likely means facing lower-seeded opposition like DR Congo or Senegal, while slipping to second or third could mean an immediate collision with Portugal or Colombia. Tuchel's selection is further complicated by Reece James's hamstring absence, though the return of Saka, Rice, and Anderson softens the blow.
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