Thomas Tuchel is hoping to end England’s 60 years of hurt on the global stage but endured a first hiccup in a goalless draw against Ghana in their second group-stage outing.
The Three Lions got off to a perfect start by producing a 4-2 win over Croatia, overcoming what was on paper the toughest test they expected to face in Group L.
But after being held to a point by Ghana, England’s status as group winners is not yet sealed and they will need a result against Panama in the third match to ensure they get the most favourable draw.
Topping the group, as is still expected, would mean they face a third-place finisher in Groups E/H/I/J/K in the round of 32. Assuming the group stage finishes in accordance with seeding, any of Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Algeria or DR Congo could end up being drawn to face England.
One round beyond that, the winner of Group A could await — going by Fifa rankings, that would be hosts Mexico, throwing England into the high-altitude cauldron of the Estadio Azteca.
But if they overcame that serious test of resolve, Brazil would be their quarter-final opponent, with Argentina, following a fine start with Lionel Messi’s hat-trick, then the potential semi-final opposition.
Top-ranked Spain would then share the final with England from the other side of the draw.
England’s possible route to World Cup final:
Group fixtures
17 June: England 4-2 Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
23 June: England 0-0 Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
27 June: England vs Panama | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Round of 32
1 July: England v third-place finisher in Group E/H/I/J/K | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Round of 16
5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Quarter-final
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Semi-final
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Final:
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
