THE KNOCKOUT PHASE IS CALLING FOR ENGLAND
My previous blog was part titled ‘Just Win Please’ – and thanks to Harry Kane’s stoppage time header England succeeded and are now on the brink of qualifying for the last 16 with a game to go, after Belgium’s win over Tunisia on the 23rd June. This shows how huge that 
victory was last Monday (18th June) otherwise they would not have had the opportunity to go into their final group game with qualification for the round of 16 secure.
GETTING OVER THAT LINE
The win in Volgograd over a lets be honest, average Tunisia side, should have been much more comfortable. In the first half alone England could and should have been 3 or 4 up. Naivety cost them the lead with the penalty, though how Harry Kane didn’t get a spot kick 
for being wrestled to the ground on two occasions, despite VAR is anybody’s guess. They made heavy weather of it during the second half, but were the only team trying to win the game and credit manager Gareth ‘GS’ Southgate with his substitutes, especially Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who energised the team and it was his tenacity that earned the corner that resulted in their more than deserved winner.
ANOTHER WIN PLEASE
England now head to Nizhny Novgorod where they face World Cup debutants, Panama, on 24th June. Whilst you cannot take anything for granted, if England impose themselves like they did in the first half against Tunisia and create chances then hopefully their finishing will be better than we saw in their first match. Allied with the fact that the Central Americans, having 
already lost their first game, really need to have a go at the English and just trying to keep the opposition out cannot be their tactic, for the whole game anyway.
CHANGES?
The team selection for this game will be interesting. There have been calls for Raheem Sterling to be dropped after an in and out performance, Dele Alli also didn’t really get into the game, it was no surprise to see them both substituted. The Spurs man actually took a knock in that match and has missed some training sessions, so is a doubt for the game. As mentioned Loftus-Cheek made a real difference when he came on and whilst Marcus Rashford wasn’t as effective his direct running style and willingness to try things caused some alarm for a tiring opposition. Southgate seems the kind of manager to not make too many knee jerk reactions with a team that has played very well, and after such a fast start against Tunisa, where the game should really have been put to bed, for me, it should be no surprise to anyone if he begins with the same starting 11, if they are all fit to play.
PREDICTION
As I alluded to earlier, this Panama side are no great shakes and are not a better side than Tunisia in my opinion. England need to start quickly and try to put this game to bed as soon as possible because the longer Panama are in the game the more they will feel like they can get something. This they showed against Belgium in the first half, but once they went a goal down , very early in the second half, they huffed and puffed but never looked like getting back into the game. England to match their group rivals from northern Europe and win 3-0, hence qualification to the round of 16 will be achieved. Shootout in Kaliningrad anyone?
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