England manager Thomas Tuchel says he is eager to watch Ghana’s final Group L match against Croatia as his side prepares for its final group fixture against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I want to see how Croatia plays against Ghana,” Tuchel said while previewing England’s clash with Panama.
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His comments came after England were held to a goalless draw by the Black Stars, a result that leaves both teams on four points heading into the final round of group matches.
Despite failing to score against Ghana, Tuchel defended his team’s overall performance, insisting England controlled the game but lacked the quality needed to break down Ghana’s disciplined defence.
He said England dominated possession, limited Ghana’s counterattacks and created enough opportunities to win the match, but struggled with the quality of their crosses, the timing of runs into the penalty area and the speed of their attacking play.
Tuchel praised Ghana’s defensive organisation, describing Carlos Queiroz’s side as a team that defended with a very deep block and made it difficult to find space in dangerous areas.
Looking ahead to Panama, the England manager expects a similar challenge.
He believes Panama are also likely to defend deep, possibly with a 5-4-1 formation, forcing England to rely more on individual quality than tactical adjustments.
According to Tuchel, success against deep defensive systems will depend on winning one-on-one situations, delivering better crosses, taking more shots from distance and scoring the first goal to force opponents out of their defensive shape.
The England boss admitted the draw with Ghana has affected his plans to rotate the squad.
He said England would have been able to make more changes had they secured maximum points from their opening two matches. However, with top spot in the group still undecided, he intends to be more cautious with team selection.
Tuchel indicated that Bukayo Saka is among the players who could receive increased playing time as England prepare for the knockout stage.
He also backed underperforming players, particularly those on the left side of the team, insisting there are no plans to drop them as punishment.
Instead, he said the squad must continue to trust its overall approach and use the challenges of the group stage as an opportunity to grow into the tournament.
England face Panama in their final Group L match, while Ghana take on Croatia, with qualification to the Round of 32 still to be decided.
