Panama vs. England: Thomas Tuchel could be facing "serious problem" at 2026 World Cup

Ahead of England's 2026 World Cup clash with Panama connected Saturday, Sports Mole's Football Editor discusses immoderate enactment issues facing Three Lions caput manager Thomas Tuchel.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "The right-back presumption becomes a superior problem"

The wounded concern needs addressing before attempting to prime a team, with Reece James looking similar helium has a problem. 

Declan Rice is besides a concern, having been carrying a hamstring contented that has been ongoing since Christmas. Rice has played 64 games this play for club and country. 

Saka's fittingness is besides unclear, and Rashford has had his issues too. The right-back presumption becomes a superior problem if Djed Spence is besides carrying a knock, arsenic the squad is notably airy connected options there. 

That feeds into the age-old statement astir whether Alexander-Arnold should person been included. 

The Ghana crippled was precisely the benignant of fixture wherever Alexander-Arnold, Foden, and Palmer would person made a difference, but they are not there.

Gordon should travel retired of the side. That is not to accidental Rashford has been consistently awesome arsenic a starter for England, arsenic overmuch of his champion enactment for the nationalist squad has travel disconnected the bench. 

As a starter, helium has notoriously recovered it hard to person a important impact. Rashford, fittingness permitting, should travel into the starting line-up connected the left. 

The question of Saka's fittingness besides needs answering, and Madueke was really poor last clip out. If Rice is struggling, determination is nary constituent playing him against Panama. 

After Kane, Rice is England's astir important player, and determination is nary consciousness risking him successful a 3rd radical crippled erstwhile England should person capable to triumph without him. 

Kobbie Mainoo could measurement successful if Rice cannot start. Konsa and Guehi should beryllium the cardinal antiaircraft pairing going guardant successful this tournament, with Stones arsenic backup. 

Nico O'Reilly should travel backmost successful astatine near back. Tuchel suggested helium would rotate, but the antiaircraft wounded concerns are a complicating factor. 

Rogers should diagnostic someway if Rashford oregon Saka are not afloat fit. If different goalless gully follows, questions volition equine astir whether capable originative players were brought to the tournament. 

Southgate had a large reign wide but faced changeless unit from the media and fans implicit his selections, and Tuchel volition not privation the aforesaid happening gathering up arsenic the tourney progresses.