England feel the heat ahead of Panama test
NIZHNYNOVGOROD : The build-up to England’s second game, against Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium here on Sunday, has been slightly tense. And it is because of a picture’s potential to say a thousand words.
A leaked photograph of a paper containing the teamsheet for Sunday’s game has led to some bitterness between the England camp and the country’s media contingent.
“Try to keep it to yourself and don’t bring it out to the world, because it’s not going to help us come the later stages of the tournament. You guys have to do your little bit. So, if you could just please help us with that, it would be polite,” defender Kyle Walker told reporters at the team base in Repino on Friday.
The photo, clicked by an English reporter at an open training session, didn’t take long to make its rounds on the internet.
England got here on Saturday afternoon from a place that was a lot cooler. The temperature at their Repino base was 17 degree Celsius on Saturday morning but in Nizhny, they could be facing at least a 15-degree jump. That could affect them given that this is an early kick-off.
OFF-FIELD ISSUE
However, despite the off-the-field issue, spirit remains high in the England camp. Gareth Southgate’s side buzzed in the opening 30 minutes against Tunisia.
They could score only once in that period, missing a number of chances but after their opponents scored through a penalty, the tempo gradually slowed.
But Southgate will take heart from the fact that his side managed to put enough pressure on Tunisia and get full points.
With skipper Harry Kane in fine form against Tunisia, England will be confident of their goal-scoring ability.
But with Raheem Sterling looking a shadow of the player he was at Manchester City last term, it needs to be seen if Southgate prefers Marcus Rashford in the starting XI.
INJURED ALLI LIKELY TO MISS OUT
Having suffered a thigh strain in the opener, Dele Alli could sit out and Ruben Loftus-Cheek pair Jordan Henderson in the midfield. With three points virtually sealing their place in the next round, there aren’t likely to be many changes in England’s line-up. Panama’s first-ever World Cup match saw them lose 0-3 to Belgium. It also put five players on a booking.
Hernan Dario Gomez’s side though does have a strong defence and frustrated Belgium in the first half.
Playing with a 4-1-4-1 formation, Panama can cause similar problems for England if they stay disciplined.
However, it is their attack that Panama will be worried about. Against Belgium, they had seven shots on goal, with two on target, but really failed to pressure the opposition backline. In their last seven matches, Panama have scored just twice.