LOS ANGELES, United States, June 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - England and Portugal 
will aim to finish on a high as the World Cup group stages draw to a close on 
Saturday with the final places in the knockout rounds up for grabs.

Both nations have been inconsistent in the opening rounds of the tournament, 
alternating between laboured performances and moments of genuine quality.

England, level on four points with Ghana after two games, take on Panama at 
the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford looking for a victory to boost their 
chances of claiming top spot in Group L.

In Miami, Portugal enter their clash Group K with leaders Colombia knowing 
that only a win will enable them to leapfrog the South Americans into first 
place.

England opened their World Cup with a swashbuckling 4-2 defeat of Croatia in 
Dallas last week but were held to a 0-0 draw in an attritional battle with 
Ghana on Tuesday.

Manager Thomas Tuchel is expecting another arm-wrestle against point-less 
Panama on Saturday, with the South Americans expected to defend in numbers.

"It's a team that is difficult to break down, they've hardly allowed any 
chances," Tuchel said Friday on the eve of the game.

"We see a well-coached, well-drilled team and a clear identity. The world 
ranking is on the same level as Wales and Serbia.

"It's not the most famous or the most well-known football nation, but they 
can play the role of underdog and play without any pressure."

While results on Friday ensured England had already advanced to the knockout 
rounds, failure to beat Panama is likely to raise more questions about their 
right to be regarded as serious contenders for the title.

- 'Not scared' -

But while teams like France and Argentina have impressed with some 
scintillating performances, Tuchel maintains his side will fear no one in the 
next round.

"I'm not scared," Tuchel told reporters. "I would just play football and we 
feel confident enough to be ready and compete on any level... I still see our 
group as one of the most difficult. This is where we go from. We focus on 
what we can influence."

Portugal meanwhile face a test of their credentials against Colombia in Miami 
in Group K.

The Portuguese entered the tournament among the favourites, but stumbled in 
their opening game with a lacklustre 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of 
Congo.

But Portugal sparked back to life in their next game, pummeling Uzbekistan 5-
0 with two goals from 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

A victory on Saturday could lead to a theoretically easier last 32 opponent, 
with the Group K winner facing a third-placed side in the next round.

The team finishing second will meet the runner-up in England, Ghana and 
Croatia's Group L and potentially a round of 16 meeting against Spain.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez insists though he is not looking no further 
than Saturday's opponents.

"The focus is to try to win the game and not think about the next opponent," 
Martinez said Friday. "If you want to do well in a tournament, you have to 
beat anyone and everyone.

"There's no single right path or position. What matters is that we play at 
our best, and you can only do that by winning."

After Friday's hectic round of fixtures, just four places among the last 32 
remain to be filled, with 28 teams having already advanced.

Among those teams facing a nervous wait on Saturday to see if they will 
advance are Iran, who suffered heartache on Friday when they drew 1-1 with 
Egypt in Seattle.

Iran thought they had clinched dramatic injury time winner that would have 
propelled them into the knockout rounds, only for the goal to be ruled 
offside.

The draw was enough, however, for Egypt to qualify for the round of 32, coach 
Hossam Hassan playing down worries over star player Mohamed Salah.

Salah was forced off the pitch in the 57th minute, the striker placing an 
icepack under his left thigh.

"I spoke with Salah and he assured me it would be fine, that it's not a 
serious injury," Hassan said.