World Cup 2026, Group L: England with an identity, three ‘traps’ 🏴🇭🇷🇬🇭🇵🇦 | OneFootball

Group L of the 2026 World Cup promises to be a real powder keg. With European giants hungry for glory, the frantic pace of African football, and the grit of Concacaf, every match will be a tactical and physical battle with no room to breathe.

Which players should you keep an eye on?

🏴 Jude Bellingham: The midfielder is pure dynamism, power, and attacking threat. With his incredible ability to break lines, he is expected to be the true engine driving the Three Lions’ attacking play and leadership.

🇭🇷 Luka Modrić: The eternal master heads into his fifth World Cup to deliver one last show of magic. His peripheral vision and pinpoint control of the tempo in midfield will remain the competitive pillar of the Croatian side.

🇬🇭 Mohammed Kudus: The Black Stars’ brightest jewel stands out for his dribbling, explosiveness, and ability to create plays out of nothing. His confidence and powerful one-on-one game will put any defense in the group under serious pressure.

🇵🇦Adalberto Carrasquilla: The brain of the Panamanian side stands out for his excellent distribution and work rate. Panama’s chances of springing a big surprise will depend on his composure in pulling the strings and transitioning quickly.

Which absences stand out the most?

The tournament will lose some shine due to the confirmed absences of key figures: England suffers a major blow by missing the talent and end product of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton; Panama loses the strength in midfield of Kadir Barría and Abdiel Ayarza; while Croatia will miss the tactical balance provided by Josip Mišić.

Which match can’t I miss?

England vs Croatia is the headline fixture. As well as reviving the iconic 2018 semi-final, this opening match will go a long way toward deciding top spot in the group, pitting British intensity against Croatia’s tactical chess.

Who are the favorites to go through?

England and Croatia start as the clear favorites to reach the knockout stage thanks to their pedigree and squad depth. However, Ghana’s physicality could earn them points and pile on the pressure in the race for the round of 16.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 Rich Storry - 2026 Getty Images