England (1-0-1) and Panama (0-2-0) will face off today at 5:00 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
England is favored at a -575 price, with the over/under set at 3.5 (+110o / -140u) goals.
Let's get into my Panama vs. England prediction.
Panama vs. England Prediction
Pick: Harry Kane 2+ Goals (+245)
My Panama vs. England best bet is on the English striker to bounce back with two or more goals.
Panama vs. England Odds
| England Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 +125 | 3.5 110o / -140u | -575 |
| Panama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -155 | 3.5 110o / -140u | +1400 |
Panama vs. England World Cup Preview
England enters this match as the overwhelming favorite, but their 0-0 draw with Ghana showed they can be frustrated by a disciplined, defensive opponent.
Panama will almost certainly adopt a similar strategy, defending deep and trying to limit space for England's creative players. However, England is expected to dominate possession, averaging over 70% of the ball under Thomas Tuchel.
Despite the goalless result, England still generated 19 shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.36 against Ghana. Against a weaker Panama squad, that volume of chances should increase significantly. England's attackers will be determined to be more clinical in front of goal to secure a win and potentially win the group on goal difference.
The head-to-head history is limited to a single match at the 2018 tournament, where England dismantled Panama 6-1. Panama has struggled mightily against European competition in its limited history, losing all three such matches with a combined goal difference of 1-10.
England, meanwhile, has a solid record against CONCACAF teams, with three wins, two draws, and just one loss in six games. All signs point toward England controlling this fixture from start to finish.
Check out the best soccer odds before making your Panama vs England picks.
Panama vs. England Picks, Parlay
Leg 1: Harry Kane 2+ Goals (+245, DraftKings)
Leg 2: England Over 1.5 Second Half Goals (+105, bet365)
Harry Kane is a focal point for this Panama vs England matchup. After failing to score against Ghana and missing a significant chance, history has shown that Kane often responds with a strong performance. He already has two goals in this tournament from the opener against Croatia and will be central to an England attack eager to silence critics after their last outing.
Panama has conceded 13 goals in its five all-time tournament matches, and the defensive gap between these two sides is substantial. In their only previous meeting in 2018, Kane scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 England victory. He will get plenty of opportunities to find the score sheet again.
Also, England’s bench is one of the strongest in the entire tournament. Against Ghana, manager Thomas Tuchel brought on quality attackers like Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Eberechi Eze. This depth was on full display in the opening match against Croatia, where substitutes played a key role in a 4-2 victory.
As Panama will likely employ a low block and defend for most of the match, they will inevitably fatigue. This sets the stage for England’s fresh legs to exploit gaps and find the net multiple times after halftime, making the over on their second-half goal total an attractive play.
Panama vs. England Projected Lineups
Panama Expected Lineup (5-4-1)
Goalkeeper: Mosquera
Defenders: Murillo, Cordoba, Ramos, Andrade, Blackman
Midfielders: Martinez, Barcenas, Harvey, Rodriguez
Forwards: Fajardo
England Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Pickford
Defenders: Spence, Guehi, Konsa, O'Reilly
Midfielders: Mainoo, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford
Forwards: Kane
Panama vs. England Weather
It will be 76 degrees and mostly cloudy for today's England-Panama match. Rain shouldn't be a factor around the scheduled start time.
