Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama. England carry the weight of expectation, Croatia bring serial tournament know-how, Ghana are a reviving African giant and Panama are the gritty CONCACAF qualifiers.
Key stats of each team
Below are numbers from each team's recent matches, computed from the ScanGoal database. Each card ends with auto-insights — what stands out in the data.
England last 12 months · 12 matches| Goals for/game | 2.3 |
| Goals against/game | 0.5 |
| xG for/game | 2.2 |
| xG against/game | 0.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 42% |
| Both teams score | 17% |
| Corners/game | 7.7 |
| Yellow cards/game | 0.7 |
| Shots on target/game | 6.5 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 58% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.5 conceded per game
- a strong attack — 2.3 goals per game
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 17%
- works the flanks — 7.7 corners per game
- disciplined — only 0.7 yellows per game
- creates real chances: 2.2 xG per game
Croatia last 12 months · 11 matches| Goals for/game | 1.9 |
| Goals against/game | 1.3 |
| xG for/game | 2.0 |
| xG against/game | 1.0 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 73% |
| Both teams score | 55% |
| Corners/game | 7.4 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.2 |
| Shots on target/game | 5.4 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 73% of games
- works the flanks — 7.4 corners per game
- disciplined — only 1.2 yellows per game
- creates real chances: 2.0 xG per game
Ghana last 12 months · 11 matches| Goals for/game | 1.1 |
| Goals against/game | 1.3 |
| xG for/game | 0.7 |
| xG against/game | 1.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 27% |
| Both teams score | 36% |
| Corners/game | 4.2 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.5 |
| Shots on target/game | 3.0 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 73% of games
- blunt in attack — only 1.1 goals per game
- toothless: just 0.7 xG per game
- out-finishing their xG
Panama last 12 months · 16 matches| Goals for/game | 1.6 |
| Goals against/game | 1.3 |
| xG for/game | 1.6 |
| xG against/game | 1.4 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 38% |
| Both teams score | 69% |
| Corners/game | 4.4 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.4 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.4 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 62% of games
- goals at both ends — BTTS in 69% of games
Form going in
England — recent form WDLWWW| 17.06.26 | England4:2xG 2.8 : 0.7Croatia | World Cup 2026 |
| 10.06.26 | England3:0xG 4.6 : 0.0Costa Rica | International Match |
| 06.06.26 | England1:0xG 1.5 : 0.1New Zealand | Friendlies |
| 31.03.26 | England0:1xG 1.0 : 0.6Japan | International Match |
| 27.03.26 | England1:1Uruguay | International Match |
| 16.11.25 | Albania0:2xG 0.5 : 1.6England | Nations League |
Croatia — recent form WWLLWL| 17.06.26 | England4:2xG 2.8 : 0.7Croatia | World Cup 2026 |
| 07.06.26 | Croatia2:1xG 1.6 : 1.8Slovenia | International Match |
| 02.06.26 | Croatia0:2xG 0.5 : 0.7Belgium | Friendlies |
| 01.04.26 | Brazil3:1xG 2.2 : 1.0Croatia | International Match |
| 27.03.26 | Colombia1:2Croatia | Friendlies |
| 17.11.25 | Montenegro2:3xG 0.9 : 2.9Croatia | Nations League |
Who goes through
England have the strongest squad and should win the group — their defensive numbers are elite (see the goals-against card). Croatia's experience makes them favourites for second, but they are an ageing side and Ghana's pace can hurt them.
Dark horse & possible upset
Ghana are the dark horse — young, quick and capable of catching a slow Croatia. The most likely upset is Ghana edging Croatia for second; a fully-firing England topping the group is close to a lock.
Squads: call-ups & shocks
England served up the biggest selection shock of the tournament. Head coach Thomas Tuchel left Phil Foden and Cole Palmer — two of the Premier League's most gifted creators — out of his 26-man squad, and Real Madrid full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold also missed the cut. Veteran defender Harry Maguire said he was “shocked and gutted” to be omitted. The notable recalls were strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, with Harry Kane retained as captain. The squad gathered at a Palm Beach, Florida training base from 1 June. Sources: England Football, ESPN.
The fall-out matters on the pitch: dropping Foden and Palmer removes England's two highest-ceiling improvisers, leaning the side further into the pragmatic, low-event profile you can see in the stat card above (elite goals-against, modest BTTS).
Betting angles
England are a textbook unders/clean-sheet team: low goals against, low cards, modest BTTS. Their matches favour unders and 'England clean sheet' markets; Ghana fixtures bring the goals.
Remember: totals, corners and cards are markets where our national-team data is most useful. Cross-check live odds and our Value Picks of the day; the handicap mechanics are covered in our Asian handicap guide.
Analysis only. Betting is 18+, please gamble responsibly.