WELCOME to the Clean Sheet - a Simple World Cup Guide.
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Missed a previous Group release - Click below
Group L is considered 6 of 12 toughest
Group L Teams in a Sentence
England - Talent is there, can they put it together and control the midfield.
Croatia - “Old man” hoops league feel, when old guys beat the more talented young guys.
Ghana - Sneaky talented, loaded with European talent.
Panama - Underdogs, defensive minded and organized.
Where Group L finishers will play
1L Winner
2L Second Place
3L Third Place (8 of 12 will qualify)
1L gets a 3, 2L gets 2K, if qualified 3L would get 1K
Group L Schedule (times are CST)
Match 22 Wednesday 6/17 Dallas, 3p - FOX - England v Croatia
Match 21 Wednesday 6/17 Toronto, 6p - FS1 - Ghana v Panama
Match 45 Tuesday 6/23 Boston, 3p - FOX - England v Ghana
Match 46 Tuesday 6/23 Toronto, 6p - FS1 - Panama v Croatia
Match 67 Saturday 6/27 NYNJ, 4p - FOX - Panama v England
Match 68 Saturday 6/27 Phili, 4p - FS1 - Croatia v Ghana
Group ODDS (+110 = bet $100 to win $110, -250 = bet $250 to win $100)
To Advance out of Group L
England -350
Croatia +350
Ghana +1000
Panama +5000
To Win Group L
England -350
Croatia +350
Ghana +1000
Panama +5000
To Win the World Cup
England +610
Croatia +8000
Ghana +40000
Panama +150000
CS Analysis
England. Deep talent, full of stars and quality, but can they put it all together. The home of the beautiful game, it’s been 60 years since they’ve won their only world cup. For England to make a deep run they will need their attacking talents to stay fit and the defense to remain solid at set pieces. They will look to dominate possession, press high, and finish with clinical speed. Feels like this side have been good, not great yet. They will win it all if they put it together at the right time.
Most Interesting Player
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
All-time England goal king that fans love and respect. Scored & assisted 70 goals in the Bundesliga this season (25/26), looking to keep that form going. Will need to find the net often if England want to hoist the Cup.
Croatia head to 2026 with a strong, experienced squad blending veteran leaders with some exciting young talent. Is this side too old? We will find out. For Croatia to make a deep run they will need their midfield to control games and the defense to stay rock-solid. They will look to play with high intelligence, press selectively, and exploit transitions. Ever play in a hoops or soccer match where the young guys were way more athletic and skilled but kept getting beat by the “old guys” who just knew how to play? That’s what Croatia hopes to do.
Most Interesting Player
Luca Modric (AC Milan)
All-time Croatian great and 40-year-old icon that fans cherish. Likely-final-World-Cup storyline is pure nostalgia. Can he find another WC run.
Ghana brings a dynamic squad full of European-based talent, still possessing the quality to reach the knockout stage. For Ghana to make a deep run they will need their midfield to control the tempo and the forwards to convert chances in transition. They will look to play with high intensity, press aggressively, and counter at pace. This side could surprise.
Most Interesting Player
Antoine Semenyo (Man City)
Breakout revelation at Man City that Black Stars fans already love. Great pace and attacking threat and expected to be Ghana’s “new star”.
Panama is resilient and organized, built on domestic and regional experience, still possessing the tactical structure to cause upsets and maybe reach the knockout stage. For Panama to make a run they will need their defense to hold firm and their creative players to take advantage of what may be limited chances. Would be considered a win to win any points.
Most Interesting Player
Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas, Mexico)
Dynamic veteran and Gold Cup star with legendary red-card drama, fans love the passion and more than fiery temperament. His energy and creativity still can be game-changing.
In Summary
What a storyline it would be if England won the World Cup in the USA on the 250th birthday of the country after breaking away from…Britian.
Storyline 2 - What a bigger storyline it would be if the USA beat England in the finals for a second win 250 years later.😏
England’s high-pressing, athletic intensity under their manager Thomas Tuchel could win the title, but they will need to come together and play the way they dominated qualifying. Fans are not sold on the German Tuchel, both because he’s not British and because they don’t like the style of play. Harry Kane is the best player in the Group and should find the net a bunch and will contend for the Golden Boot (most goals scored in the tournament). Croatia will be crafty, play smart, leverage their experience, or however else you want to say they will need to rely on their intelligence versus being the most athletic or skilled. Ghana could win the group themselves if Mohammed Kudus gets out in the open and finds the net. Panama will need to play a physical, direct style but will be significant underdogs in each match. England’s skill and depth, Croatia’s experience and Ghana’s pace - will be fun to watch which teams can execute their gameplan.
CS Picks
L1 England
L2 Croatia
L3 Ghana
L4 Panama
More On Each Country & National Team Below
England
Visiting?
Walk around London, look kids, Big Ben - Parliament. Buckingham Palace. Hyde Park. Piccadilly Circus. London Bridge.
Pubs. Grab a Cask Beer, a non-carbonated ale.
Explore the architecture, cathedrals and castles.
“The Land of Hope and Glory”
Population: 55M
Area: 50,000 Miles2
Region: Europe
Capital: London
Language: English
Greeting: Hello
Cuisine: Roasts, pies, dairy and breads. Fish & Chips. Ales. Full English Breakfast with eggs, ham, beans and toast. Shepherd’s Pie. Yorkshire Pudding.
The Three Lions
Group L
World Ranking 4
WC Apps. 17
Best WC Finish: Winners 1966
FIFA Governing Body: UEFA
Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel (German)
Captain: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
All Time Top Scorer: Harry Kane (112 caps, 78 goals) will play in this World Cup
About the Team
England went unbeaten in qualifying. The squad shows a seamless blend of established stars and an exciting new generation, with the question now being whether the youthful firepower can deliver under pressure on the biggest stage. Stars like Harry Kane (still the captain and goal machine) and Jude Bellingham provide leadership and match-winning quality, while a wave of younger talent in Phil Foden, Declan Rice and Cole Palmer—some of the most exciting in European soccer—give the Three Lions genuine depth and creativity across the pitch.
The Fans
Just to be clear, love England Football fans and the EPL. That being said, want to know if England fans are the best in the world? Just ask them. Kidding aside, England fans are among the most passionate and recognizable in the world blending its long-standing soccer heritage, military history, and footballing culture. (using “football” to endure CS to England fans). “It’s Coming Home” will be the chant you hear in every English Pub across the USA.
Players to Watch
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) –
Marc Guehi (Manchester City)
Reece James (Chelsea)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Visiting?
Beaches and bays along the Adriatic Sea.
Dubrovnik, the “pearl of the Adriatic”, a limestone walled city on the sea.
Split, a Roman town now riming with cafes, plazas and boutiques.
Zagreb’s galleries, churches and museums.
Get on the water and travel the coast.
Croatia
Population: 4M
Area: 22,000 Miles2
Region: Eastern Europe
Capital: Zagreb
Language: Croatian
Greeting: Bok (hello and bye)
Cuisine: Mediterranean coastal and hearty inland European split. Olive oil, seafood and Italian influence on the coast. Hearty meats, paprika and lard inland. Peka, a slow cooked meat and veggie stew is the national dish.
Checkered Ones
Also, The Vatreni
“The Fiery Ones”
Group L
World Ranking 11
WC Apps. 7
Best WC Finish: 2nd Place 2018
FIFA Governing Body: UEFA
Head Coach: Zlatko Dalic (Croatian)
Captain: Luka Modric (AC Milan)
All Time Top Scorer: Davor Suker (68 caps, 45 goals) in the early 1990’s & 2000’s
About the Team
Croatia qualified directly by finishing second in their UEFA group. The squad marks the natural evolution after the Modric era, with a core of established stars now mentoring the next wave. Stars like Luka Modric (still the heartbeat at 40) and Mateo Kovacic provide world-class control and leadership, while defenders such as Josko Gvardiol and young prospects like Josip Sutalo and forward Bruno Petkovic add steel and dynamism, creating a competitive, never-say-die team built for knockout football.
The Fans
Red & White checker board, the Vatreni fans are very recognizable. Fireworks, chants and raw national pride are always on display. Any of you soccer fans know of a Croatian soccer club in your metro area? Probably.
Players to Watch
Luka Modrić (AC Milan)
Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City)
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim)
Ivan Perisic (Eindhoven)
Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce) – GK.
Ghana
Visiting?
Kakum National Park and it’s 120-foot-high rainforest canopy walkway.
Explore the markets of Accra.
Mole National Park, the most accessible Elephant sightings in West Africa.
Cape Coast Castle, a major fort with significant Ghanan history in the slave trade.
“The Pearl of Africa”
Population: 29M
Area: 92,000 Miles2
Region: Western Africa
Capital: Accra
Language: English
Greeting: Hello, Akwaaba (welcome)
Cuisine: Starches, Spice and Community. Starchy staples, stews and soups. Plantains in the South and Millet and Sorghum in the North. Tomato-pepper-onion bases, palm nut soup and groundnut stew. Fufu is a side dish from boiled and pounded cassava or yams that becomes a paste and shaped into small balls and served soft and chewy.
Black Stars
Group L
World Ranking 74
WC Apps. 5
Best WC Finish: QF 2010
FIFA Governing Body: CAF
Head Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portuguese)
Captain: Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
All Time Top Scorer: Asamoah Gyan (109 caps, 51 goals) in the 2000’s & 2010’s.
About the Team
Ghana won their qualifying group. The squad shows a healthy blend of experienced leaders and emerging stars, with the handoff already well underway after recent strong tournaments. Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus provide leadership and midfield control, while exciting attackers such as Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana and young forward Ernest Nuamah bring pace, skill, and goal threat that have defined the Black Stars’ modern identity.
The Fans
The Black Stars fans are passionate, loud, and deeply proud, with vibrant fans in red, yellow, and green. Expect a colorful, rhythmic atmosphere full of drumming and chanting that feels like a national celebration.
Players to Watch
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
Thomas Partey (Arsenal)
Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen) – GK.
Panama
Visiting?
Monster freighters and capuchin monkeys share the Panama Canal.
Snorkel with Sea Turtles in the Parque Nacional Volcan Baru.
The Darien Gap is a 60-mile dense, roadless jungle area in Southern Panama that connects to Colombia and is the barrier between North and South America
Check out Casco Viejo, the historic district of Panama City and sit at a rooftop bar after shopping the plazas and boutiques.
“The Land of Plenty”
Population: 4M
Area: 29,000 Miles2
Region: Central America
Capital: Panama City
Language: Spanish
Greeting: Hola
Cuisine: African, Caribbean, Spanish and Latin American all blended with Panamanian culture. Plantains. Corn. Seafood. Spices. Coconut. The national dish is Sancocho, a hearty chicken and veggie stew with yams, corns and plantains.
Los Canaleros “The Canal Men”
Group L
World Ranking 34
WC Apps. 2
Best WC Finish: Group Stage
FIFA Governing Body: CONCACAF
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen (Denmark)
Captain: Anibal Godoy (San Diego MLS)
All Time Top Scorer: Luis Tejada (108 caps, 43 goals) in the 2000’s & 2010’s
About the Team
Panama qualified for the World Cup by winning their CONCACAF group. While it helps that Canada, Mexico and USA were automatically in as hosts, Panama got one of the three automatic qualifiers. The squad is built around a core of experienced players from the Panamanian league, creating a tight unit where tactical discipline is the main weapon. Captain Aiíbal Godoy and goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera provide veteran leadership, while younger talents like Ismael Diaz, Jose Fajardo and creative midfielder Cesar Yanis add energy and goal threat.
The Fans
La Marea Roja, the Red Tide, are one of the most joyful, resilient and culturally vibrant supporter bases in CONCACAF. Just 4 million citizens in Panama, they punch well above their weight in energy by bringing a Latin-flavored vibe.
Players to Watch
Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM)
Anibal Godoy (Nashville MLS)
Michael Murillo (Marseille)
Ismael Díaz (Universidad Católica)
José Fajardo (Saprissa)
Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – GK.
