England

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England defender Marc Guehi on the challenge of facing Panama: "I think we just have to stay focused on ourselves and it doesn't really matter whether the Panama are still in the competition or not, I think their goal is always the same. To do as well as possible and do their country proud.

"For us, it is to try and improve on the things from the last game. It will be a similar game but if we can do that, I think it will be a real positive."

Joining Thomas Tuchel for England's pre-match news conference was Manchester City's Marc Guehi.

The defender didn't feature in the Three Lions' opener against Croatia but was reinstated to the starting XI for the draw with Ghana.

Beau Brown
BBC Sport

If Thomas Tuchel decides to do a Norway and rotate his squad, Jordan Henderson could make English history.

If Henderson makes it on to the pitch at this World Cup, he’ll become the first-ever England player to play at four World Cups.

Henderson was first picked by Roy Hodgson in 2014 for the World Cup in Brazil and also played in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Henderson is just 10 caps from a century and has made 11 appearances across the three most recent World Cups, captaining the side in 2016 under then newly appointed Gareth Southgate.

Whether it be Hodgson, Southgate or current boss Thomas Tuchel, Henderson has been the one constant in the rise of the England side since a dreary group stage exit 12 years ago in Brazil.

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England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking at his pre-Panama news conference about the new expanded format of the World Cup: "It is what it is. I don't reflect on it in a way that I like it more or less. It is the format. We knew about it, we make the best out of it.

"I think every coach and player would like to play quicker once the tournament starts, to get everything more condensed but it is just not the reality with the amount of teams that participate and that's just what it is. It is a big chance, opportunity for teams who have the chance to qualify and have a better chance to qualify. We have to respect that and honour that. It is a massive thing for them.

"We are spoiled because our nations are regularly part of a tournament and the big nations compete every four years, but for smaller countries, underdog countries, they can take this opportunity, and that's what the format is. We adapt. We have had a good camp so far. It is very demanding, but that is what it is."

England and Ghana have both already reached the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, but Croatia could yet join them from Group L, depending on how other results pan out and how well they do against Ghana on Saturday.

England manager Thomas Tuchel says that the new format of the competition allows for smaller nations to have special moments - this was demonstrated by Cape Verde's historic draw with Saudi Arabia.

Thomas Tuchel, when asked about the prospect of Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford coming into his starting XI to face Panama: "Yeah, everyone can start. That's the type of players we have in camp. They are all regular starters and key players for their clubs in every position. The difficult thing for us is we cannot start everyone, every match, so they have to be ready and fulfil a new role. Everyone does to the highest level.

"We agreed with Bukayo and the medical department and Arsenal that this is the way to build him up. He is now fully free of pain, fully free of discomfort and is ready to go and ready to start, like Marcus, like Anthony (Gordon), like Noni (Madueke).

"We have a lot of options and they make it difficult for me to make a choice. We have a full choice tomorrow."

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Another topic of debate for England is the wide areas, with Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka both having positive impacts off the bench in the first two games of the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel was asked about this dilemma before Saturday's match.

England

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Thomas Tuchel was asked in his news conference about the experience of managing England despite being from a different nation: "The biggest con is I don't have an English passport but that's maybe it. That was clear from the beginning, I love to be the England coach and I was never shy about that. I have huge affection for the country and for the people in the country and the way they approach football and sports in general.

"I fell in love with the country and the Premier League. That was a dream, to work there. Now to have the chance to work with these kind of players is an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful for it. No one wants it more than me.

"It has nothing to do with my passport. I feel a connection to the players, I feel a connection to the country and that was maybe the most important. The people who gave me the responsibility felt that connection and from there we go."

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking about facing Panama in the last group-stage match: "It is a difficult match against a team that is so difficult to break down. They hardly allow any chances. They allowed two shots on target against Croatia. You see a well-coached, well-drilled team. A coach who has been there five or six years. They have a clear identity, are in the world rankings on the same level as Wales and Serbia. It's not the most famous, or well-known football nation but they are strong.

"They can play in the role of an underdog, can play without any pressure so that's 'what we expect. It is a complex game and expect them to defend in a deep block, so we have to break it down. But we also see high press against our goal kicks, against our goalkeeper. It is a complex one. We are in the role of the favourites and we have to do some things better, details better than against Ghana, but it is another challenge and we need another top performance to be able to win."

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England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking at his pre-Panama news conference about his options: "Yes I am, because I selected the team. We are happy. We are happy with the characteristics of the players and the strengths that they give us. Elliot Anderson was in full training today and Declan Rice was in full training today. They felt, both they had minor issues after the match. Everyone except Reece James is available and ready to go. We will take the decision tonight.

"We have hopes for the next match (for Reece James). It may be a tight one but he didn't travel with us."

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel says he will find a way to deal with the loss of Reece James, who is out injured for the match against Panama on Saturday: "Reece has a minor hamstring issue, a minor hamstring injury. He was not able to train the last two days. He is now in an accelerated rehabilitation programme and we take it game by game but we strongly believe he will be available for us in the tournament.

Speaking on the call-up of Trevoh Chalobah to replace the injured Tino Livramento, despite the Chelsea man not being a natural right-back, Tuchel said: "The thinking, we called Trevoh Chalobah up to free up Jarrel Quansah on the right full-back position. I saw him very strong playing that position for Liverpool and he played in a back three which is not so far away from that position, for Leverkusen. And we have Djed Spence. No one could see that coming. Reece was in good shape and felt very good. It is unlucky. Ezri Konsa has played that position for us as well on a high level, still no problem.

"Reece is a key player; we would love to have him available. We will find solutions, that's what we do. It is a short period of time, it is a tournament, that is what we will do."

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If England had beaten Ghana, Thomas Tuchel may have been more liberal with making wholesale changes to his side for Saturday's match against Panama.

As it stands, though, the Three Lions need a victory to eliminate any doubt of them finishing top of the group.

With this in mind, how many changes do you think Tuchel will make on Saturday? Get involved and let us know.

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Thomas Tuchel says he has a near-fully fit squad to choose from for England's game against Panama on Saturday.

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have recovered from their respective knocks, but right-back Reece James is out until at least the last-32.

Rice is on a yellow card and at risk of suspension, but the England manager says he is happy with the options he has in all positions, with his players ready to perform their roles "to the highest level."

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger at Boston Stadium

Had Norway put out their 'normal side' today, they've got about six players that are over 6ft 4in, 6ft 5in, they are good players as well, Haaland in there. That would have been a different question for France. They wouldn't have given as much space. We might not have been purring.

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport reporter

Norway manager Stale Solbakken made 10 changes after two group victories, including resting Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.

Ultimately, the outcome to this final group tie was a case of differing managerial approaches. Norway needed a win to finish ahead of France but, with his selection, Solbakken showed he was satisfied with second place in the standings.

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live at Boston Stadium

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We were always excited about this France team because of the firepower that they have attacking wise and what they can do with the ball. I would have liked there to be a bit less chances given to Norway.

There were moments in the box where the defending looked a bit easy, where the French maybe took it a bit for granted. We said from the beginning that the biggest issue with this team and squad is that we get very arrogant, very quickly. The problem will be when they don't have the ball.

But, when they are on it, and you start to add all of the options up from the start and from the bench, it looks really scary.

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger at Boston Stadium

There are other teams that can win it but without doubt France are the team to beat. They have had moments, there have been halves where they have been sparkling. To describe some of the forward play, it's like the Harlem Globetrotters. They scored four goals, it could easily been five or six.

They play at a pace that I don't think anyone is close to. The attack with the quality and skill, is better than anyone else.

There will come a time where they need to do it for 90 minutes, and we will find out when the big games come around. So far it has been a wee bit of a cruise.

France assistant coach Guy Stephan, who led the team with manager Didier Deschamps having returned home following the death of his mother, said Ousmane Dembele had been in part inspired by criticism from the French media.

"Ousmane is a human being, just like anyone he can hear the criticism," Stephan said. "He has unfortunately had injury issues but every time he comes back harder and harder. Three goals in a World Cup game is exceptional."