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England’s place in the last 32 of the World Cup has been confirmed after results in Group H ensured Thomas Tuchel’s side would, at worst, qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Uruguay’s defeat to Spain, coupled with Cape Verde’s draw with Saudi Arabia, left Marcelo Bielsa’s side in third and with an inferior record to England. With third-placed South Korea, Senegal and Scotland already unable to match England’s points tally, that was enough to confirm progression for Tuchel’s team.
The Three Lions face Panama in their final group game on Saturday but will now do so in the knowledge that a spot in the knockout stage is secured, though they will want a victory against the Central Americans that will confirm top spot in Group L.
That would mean a tie against a yet-to-be-confirmed third-placed team, while a draw or defeat could push them into second or even third, raising the possibility of a far trickier knockout tie.
Reece James will miss the Panama game and the last-32 tie with a hamstring injury. The right-back reported tightness after the team’s 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. England found that game tough after starting the tournament in fine style with a 4-2 victory against Croatia, in which Harry Kane scored twice.
Tuchel said on Friday that he is confident in his side’s chances against any team. “I’m not scared in general,” he said. “We feel confident enough to be ready and compete on any level. I haven’t seen that much football, to be honest, because the times were always quite early and we’re on the training pitch.
“Then it’s the afternoon, we’re in the office preparing the next day. I haven’t seen that much football – but I’m not scared. I see, of course, good teams. I see high-quality individual players who decide team matches. I see all kinds. I still see our group as one of the most difficult. This is where we go from. We focus on what we can influence.”
