Midfielder · #0 · Denmark · 15 yrs
Former Manchester City midfielder Izzy Christiansen says she is excited for "a new era" under Enzo Maresca, but believes patience will be key as the Italian adjusts to his new job at Etihad Stadium. "The signing of Elliot Anderson is absolutely terrific," Christiansen told BBC Radio Manchester.
What is Panama's current FIFA World Ranking for the 2026 World Cup? See where they stand ahead of their final Group L clash against 4th-ranked England. The Panama FIFA ranking sits at a live, updated position of 42nd in the world as Los Canaleros prepare to wrap up their highly demanding Group L schedule against global giants England. While Thomas Christiansen’s tactical unit officially entered the 2026 World Cup bracket occupying a respectable 34th position, the merciless nature of tournament math has caused an immediate downward shift. Tracking these live Elo-based alterations highlights the uphill climb Panama faces to protect their international prestige. The Central American representatives enter the pitch at Snapdragon Stadium burdened by a difficult start to their campaign. Back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Ghana and Croatia completely erased their margin for error, causing a six-place slide on the live coefficient tables. The Group L elephant in the room While Panama’s slide to 42nd reflects a team struggling to find the back of the net, the statistical gulf becomes even wider when looking at an England side firmly entrenched at 4th place globally. The current standings layout in Group L outlines the stark competitive divide ahead of kickoff: Group L standings & global rank CountryLive FIFA RankMatches PlayedPointsGoal DifferenceEngland4th24+2Ghana65th24+1Croatia13th23-1Panama42nd20-2 Historic trajectory To place Panama’s current 42nd position into clear perspective, the nation’s soccer history reveals an era of massive structural growth. Los Canaleros drifted at a highly difficult all-time floor of 150th in the world back in 1999. Through meticulous youth development and a sustained tactical identity under Christiansen, they eventually soared to a historic all-time peak of 29th globally. Facing the Three Lions under their current ranking profile presents a forgiving mathematical environment. Because the FIFA algorithm protects lower-ranked underdogs while heavily penalizing top-five favorites, Panama has nothing to lose; a loss barely impacts their point accumulation, while a shock result against England would trigger an immediate coefficient boost.
The result will decide more than just one team’s position, as it could impact the 2026 World Cup Group L standings and reshape the paths of Ghana and Croatia heading into the knockout stage. England and Panama will meet in their final 2026 World Cup Group L match on Saturday, with the Three Lions still chasing first place while Panama enters the game already eliminated. The result will decide more than just one team’s position, as it could impact the 2026 World Cup Group L standings and reshape the paths of Ghana and Croatia heading into the knockout stage. England entered the tournament with major expectations and looked on course after a dominant 4-2 victory over Croatia in the opening match. However, the national team was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana, leaving the group wide open with the final matchday approaching. Thomas Tuchel’s side currently leads Group L with four points, tied with Ghana but ahead on goal difference. Croatia sits just one point behind, meaning Tuchel and his players cannot afford to completely relax despite facing a Panama team that has already suffered elimination after defeats to Ghana and Croatia. Panama, meanwhile, has been competitive despite losing both matches by narrow margins. The national team fell 1-0 to Ghana and 1-0 to Croatia, but performances suggested the scorelines did not fully reflect the effort shown by Thomas Christiansen’s side. PositionTeamWDLGDPts1.England110+242.Ghana110+143.Croatia101-134.Panama002-20 The match also brings back memories of the 2018 World Cup, when England defeated Panama 6-1, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick. However, Panama believes this version of the team is far stronger and more prepared to challenge top opponents. What happens if England wins and Panama loses? A victory would move England to seven points and guarantee a place in the knockout stage as one of the top two teams in Group L. It would also put the Three Lions in the strongest position to finish first, although Ghana’s result against Croatia could still influence the final ranking. Harry Kane #9 of England celebrates scoring a brace vs Croatia. If Ghana fails to defeat Croatia, England automatically wins the group. However, if Ghana also wins, both teams would finish level on seven points, and the group winner would be decided by tiebreakers, beginning with goal difference. For Panama, a defeat would confirm a winless group-stage exit. The national team would still leave the tournament with valuable experience after competing against some of the strongest sides in the group. What happens if England and Panama draw? A draw would take England to five points and guarantee qualification, but it would create uncertainty over first place. The Three Lions would need to watch the Ghana vs Croatia match closely, as the result would determine whether they finish top or second. Jude Bellingham #10 of England celebrates with Harry Kane #9 after scoring a goal. If Ghana and Croatia draw, England would finish as the Group L winner. But if either Ghana or Croatia wins, that team would move above England in the standings and take first place. A draw would still represent progress for Panama compared with its 2018 World Cup campaign, as the national team would show improvement despite failing to reach the knockout stage. What happens if Panama wins and England loses? A shock defeat would prevent England from winning Group L and open the door for Ghana or Croatia to claim first place. England would remain on four points, meaning its final position would depend heavily on the result between Ghana and Croatia. Adalberto Carrasquilla of Panama. If Ghana beats or draws Croatia, Ghana would secure the top position, and England would likely finish second. If Croatia defeats Ghana, Croatia would jump to six points and win the group. For Panama, a victory would be a historic moment, giving the national team its first World Cup win and potentially damaging England’s hopes of entering the knockout rounds
The match between Panama and Croatia in Group L of the 2026 World Cup has Luka Modric from the beginning. With Panama and Croatia both looking for their first win at the 2026 World Cup, this match could go a long way toward shaping Group L, as Luka Modric is expected to start. For Croatia, their first match was the toughest one, as they had England on the fixture. However, even with the talent of their rivals, the performance was not the best, and they were beaten 4-2. This match looks like a great chance to redeem themselves against a weaker team. Panama’s debut was almost historic, as they came very close to earning a point until Ghana scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Their goal of reaching the next round may now look out of reach with the teams in the group. Panama vs Croatia lineups The lineup that Thomas Christiansen confirmed for Panama is this one: Mosquera, Blackman, Cordoba, Ramos, Harvey, Andrade, Murillo, Martinez, Rodriguez, Barcenas and Fajardo. Modric didn’t complete the first match (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) On the Croatia side, Zlatko Dalić chose this lineup: Livakovic, Stanisic, Pongracic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Kovacic, Modric, Baturina, Perisic, Pasalic and Musa. Their final matches For the final match of the group, which will decide the teams reaching the next round on June 27, Panama are playing against England while Croatia meet Ghana. England currently lead Group L with 4 points and a +2 goal difference, followed by Ghana with 4 points and a +1 goal difference. Panama are third with 0 points and a -1 goal difference, while Croatia are last with 0 points and a -2 goal difference.
Croatia have managed to make a successful rebuild of their roster ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, they were defeated by England in their debut. After that, they have lost some positions in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking ahead of the match against Panama. After a historic generation, Croatia have begun a rebuilding of their roster, led by head coach Zlatko Dalić. Even though Luka Modrić and some other veterans remain in the squad, they have opted for young players as the cornerstone of their project. Despite this, they were defeated by England in their debut, causing them to lose some positions in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking ahead of the match against Panama. Ahead of today’s clash, Croatia are ranked 15th spot with 1,695.21 points, as per FIFA Men’s World Ranking. Due to their lost, they lost four spots, being one of the most affected national teams in the ranking. Under Zlatko Dalić, they have managed to make a generational transition. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 3rd on July of 1998. Croatia remain the second highest-ranked national team in their group at the 2026 World Cup. Panamá currently hold the 40th spot with 1505.33 points. Ghana hold the 65th spot with 1380.71 points. Finally, England remain the highest-ranked national team in the group, holding the 4th spot with 1847.68 points. Zlatko Dalić has maintained an attacking approach with Croatia. With Petar Sučić and Martin Baturina leading the way, they control the attacking midfield, creating space for the attacking wing-backs. However, Luka Modrić remains an essential figure, playing a key role in managing the tempo of the game with his experience. In addition, Petar Musa would look to make an impact in front of goal against Panama, just as he did against England. Luka Modric of Croatia Croatia may struggle to dominate possession against Panama Croatia base their style of play on possession and high pressing. With a highly technical midfield, they usually control the tempo of the game and launch very efficient counterattacks. However, they could struggle to impose this style against Panama, who also tend to dominate possession. For this, Luka Modrić stands out as a key figure, as he needs to deliver his best performance after his underwhelming display against England. Led by Thomas Christiansen, Panama have significantly improved their competitiveness, aiming to be protagonists with the ball. Yoel Bárcenas and Carlos Harvey control the midfield, alongside César Blackman and Amir Murillo. As a result, Luka Modrić will be key for Croatia, as his experience and quality could give Zlatko Dalić’s team complete control. In addition, Petar Sučić could serve as his ideal partner, as both will need to deliver at their best.
Panama did not include Adalberto Carrasquilla in their 2026 World Cup debut against Ghana. This World Cup debut will not feature Panama’s ideal lineup against Ghana, as Adalberto Carrasquilla is not starting in today’s match. The reason Carrasquilla is out of the lineup is that he is still recovering from a muscle injury he suffered a few weeks ago. The left abductor tear came in the Liga MX final on May 25, when Pumas lost to Cruz Azul. Even if Carrasquilla is not available from the start in this important match for Thomas Christiansen, the expectation is that the midfielder could come off the bench if the team needs him. Carrasquilla’s importance Even if Carrasquilla does not have a long club résumé, he does have plenty of experience. The 27-year-old began at Tauro in Panama before moving to Cartagena, where the most important transfers in his career later followed. Carrasquilla got injured playing for Pumas in May (Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) His next step came when his career took off after he was initially loaned to Houston Dynamo, where he stayed longer. The following move was another important jump in level when he joined his current club. Carrasquilla’s biggest asset for this team may be the international experience that not many players can match. The midfielder’s 73 appearances for his country could be missed in this tournament if he is not able to play regularly. Panama’s matches After the match against Ghana, which closes the first fixture in Group L following England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia, Panama will face Croatia on June 23 before playing England on June 27.
Full preview of Panama for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. As one of the most intriguing international soccer teams 2026 has to offer, the Panama national team enters the competition carrying a new level of expectation. Far from the roster that struggled through its 2018 debut, Los Canaleros have evolved into a formidable presence among FIFA World Cup 2026 teams. Currently ranked 33rd globally, they arrive in North America boasting recent deep runs in regional competitions and a more sophisticated possession-based approach. Fans can expect a battle-hardened squad capable of frustrating technically superior opponents. This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down how the Central American side plans to navigate a difficult group stage. We provide a complete Panama tactical analysis, highlight the Panama key players to watch, and assess how the Panama coach transformed their qualification campaign. Team profile CoachThomas ChristiansenNicknameLos CanalerosFIFA ranking33rdConfederationCONCACAFGroupLBest World Cup resultGroup stageWorld Cup appearances2Last World Cup appearance2018 How Panama play Under their current setup, the preferred Panama formation relies on a European-style possession model that prioritizes building from the back. The team averaged an impressive 61.9% possession during their qualifiers, leaning heavily on positional play principles to dictate the tempo against regional opponents. In possession, their midfield serves as the primary engine for launching dangerous counter-attacks. They excel at circulating the ball in tight spaces, though converting sustained possession into goals remains a frustrating challenge. Despite creating 40 big chances in qualification, the team struggled with finishing, missing 29 of those premium opportunities. Defensively, the squad operates within a compact block designed to keep opponents at arm’s length. They recorded five shutouts in their qualifying run, demonstrating solid organization and resilience However, their progressive passing and defensive structure can falter when facing high-pressing elite teams. If their attacking players can capitalize on transition moments, this tactical approach could keep them competitive against the tougher opposition waiting in the group stage. Thomas Christiansen: The coach behind Panama Thomas Christiansen has managed the national team since 2020, guiding the program through a significant tactical transformation. The former Leeds United boss initially faced challenges, including missing out on the previous global tournament after a heavy defeat to the United States. Despite early setbacks, Christiansen successfully instilled a possession-oriented philosophy inspired by his playing days at Barcelona. His leadership yielded a runner-up finish at the 2023 Gold Cup and a trip to the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League finals. Known for his tactical flexibility, Christiansen understands that dominating the ball against global heavyweights is unrealistic. His pragmatic adjustments and calm demeanor have earned him immense respect among supporters. His ability to adapt defensive structures on the fly will directly shape how the team navigates their challenging summer schedule. Key player: Adalberto Carrasquilla Adalberto Carrasquilla is the undisputed engine in the center of the field for the national team. The Pumas midfielder recently made history as the first Panamanian to be named CONCACAF Player of the Year in 2024, following his Golden Ball performance at the 2023 Gold Cup. Operating as a central playmaker, Carrasquilla utilizes his exceptional vision and passing range to launch quick counter-attacks. He frequently dictates the pace of the game, helping his side maintain possession while identifying gaps in the opposition’s defense. Beyond his technical skills, his relentless work rate is crucial for winning the ball back in transition. If opponents manage to press him out of the ga
After impressive showings in recent major tournaments, Thomas Christiansen’s players are aiming to prove a point on the global stageThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
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