Lastly (and least because ef the red coats) This is the official thread for Group L. Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama

1x Champion England show up to yet another World Cup with the hopes of "bringing it home". They certainly have the talent to do it. The quality they have is all over the field. They will be looking to dampen America's 250th birthday by winning the World Cup on US soil. And no, despite online rumors, there is no mathematical possibility of England vs USA on July 4th. Croatia is back hoping for another run in what is the end of their golden generation. After making the finals in 2018, they finished 3rd in 2022. 40 year old Luka Modric is still running the midfield with Man City enforcer Kovacic. Ivan Perisic is still leading the attack at 37, but FC Dallas FW Peter Musa has started to get some caps for them as well. Ghana are back for another round. Still led by one of the Ayew brothers that seem to never run out. Under some drama as vice-captain (and arguably their best player) Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada for their first match because of ongoing (for the last 4 years) sexual assault allegations. Panama are in for their 2nd World Cup. Not much to say other than they are gonna struggle to get out of this group.

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England look very tedious but finish top of the group. Croatia finish 2nd. Ghana qualify in a 3rd place position. Panama struggle to 4th and finish the World Cup as the only team to not score a goal.

FINAL Group L Standings:
-----------------------Pld---W---D---L---GD----Pts
England--------------3---2---1---0___+4----7
Croatia---------------3---2---0---1___0----6
Ghana----------------3---1---1---1___0----4
Panama--------------3---0---0---3___-4----0


Match Day 1 Results:
England 4 : Croatia 2
Ghana 1 : Panama 0

Match Day 2 Results:
England 0 : Ghana 0
Panama 0 : Croatia 1

Match Day 3 Results:
Panama 0 : England 2
Croatia 2 : Ghana 1

Lineups for England vs Croatia

Your #ThreeLions to take on Croatia! 👊 pic.twitter.com/xLcO8Peaxl

— England (@England) June 17, 2026

🇭🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Mission underway. This is #Croatia starting lineup! 📜 #ENGCRO #WorldCup #HrabarBroj #PokažiSrce #Family #Vatreni❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/nf625l616I

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 17, 2026

Konigstiger said:

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Simply must root for the 100% Croatian side. Lovely to see in this day and age.

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What does this mean?

think this will be a good one

Croatian anthem gets a B.

My Country, Tis of Thee is a classic. Impressed that the England side have learned the new words since they changed the lyrics back in 2022.

Who had FC Dallas striker leading the line for Croatia

I just cannot root for a team with Pickford in goal and Tommy Tickles as manager.

I love my Arsenal boys, but I've always loved Croatia's fire.

Weak PK but Modric should know better

Ow.

Awful PK by Kane, bailed out by Livakovic juuuust being off the line before the strike

HAAARRRRYYYY!!!!!

The Ex Officio Director said:

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Kane should be celebrating with the ref.

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I mean the keeper was clearly off the line

Such BS. I HATE the stutter step crap. The commentators talk about is your momentum completely stopped, but it's a letter of the law versus the intent of the law. To me the intent is to prevent crap like that. I would love to see when the whistle blows both players can move. Take it quickly? Then shooter has advantage. Slow/stutter step? The goalie is on your arse.

The Ex Officio Director said:

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Kane should be celebrating with the ref.

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Same as their lone win in 66. An English ref screws Brazil and they finally win a tournament. The tu of soccer

the players' grandparents were represented in "It's a Small World After All" of their actual country when we were lads.'


Gutted by this start - can't believe that save on the PK was overturned. I don't watch a ton of soccer aside from the big tourneys and I've never seen that.

Doubly sucky b/c the ghosts of recent England football were sure to haunt them and then they get bailed out like that. SMH.

Mathguy64 said:

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gougler08 said:

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The Ex Officio Director said:

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Kane should be celebrating with the ref.

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I mean the keeper was clearly off the line

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The top view he's not. I'm assuming there is a side view that shows he lifted.

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Apparently it was Gvardiol who encroached, not Livakovic early off the line

Konigstiger said:

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the players' grandparents were represented in "It's a Small World After All" of their actual country when we were lads.'


Gutted by this start - can't believe that save on the PK was overturned. I don't watch a ton of soccer aside from the big tourneys and I've never seen that.

Doubly sucky b/c the ghosts of recent England football were sure to haunt them and then they get bailed out like that. SMH.

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The players' grandparents were young lads in 1991?

wha that makes it even worse

Thunder18 said:

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Mathguy64 said:

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gougler08 said:

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The Ex Officio Director said:

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Kane should be celebrating with the ref.

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I mean the keeper was clearly off the line

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The top view he's not. I'm assuming there is a side view that shows he lifted.

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Apparently it was Gvardiol who encroached, not Livakovic early off the line

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Yes but that's not what Turpin said. He clearly stated the GK encroached.

Something got lost in translation.

i'm only watching periodically and on mute ... Kane got to re-take a PK after his first attempt was saved because his start-stop stutter step forced the GK off his line? was it at least a legit penalty earned by england?