England vs Panama Preview: Great, we've got no right-backs | 2026 FIFA World Cup

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4:22Hello, everybody. Welcome to another special live stream on the Football Ramble. It's England versus Panama later tonight, 10pm British summertime. And England are already through to the knockouts, but they'll want to win the group. Jim Campbell joins me. Hello. Jim, England need to win the group, don't they? They do. Yes. But it's England Day. It is England Day. So what better time for them to do that? Yes, indeed. An England win would mean they can only fail to top the group if Ghana also win and better England's goal difference. So hopefully Croatia won't be generous, but Panama will be. Yeah.

5:01I'm a bit concerned is actually not even remotely the word I'm looking for. I don't necessarily think we're going to batter Panama, as a lot of people seem to think we're going to, because they've lost their previous two games in this group 1-0 each time. So they're obviously going to be a little bit of a lock to unpick, I think. And I think we might have had all of our fun in the second half of that opening game. That's the worry. And once again, we've fallen into the trap of thinking, this is good. So it will always be good all the way until the final. Yes. Yeah, I hope that we can have nice things as England fans.

5:38We have previous tournaments we've enjoyed going deep into those tournaments. but I think that Ghana game was a crashing down to reality although I don't think it was as bad as we think I think after that second half against Croatia we were pumped weren't we and then Ghana we wanted to free flow and attack in football but Karls Kieros and his Ghanaian men were very very effective they set up to not allow it didn't they and they did a really really good job of that they shut England down in every department in a way that a team who have to win something simply won't You know, unless they play a high-risk game of doing that and trying to score the occasional raid, it's very unlikely that we'll see that happen again.

6:19As I'm saying this, I'm talking myself into the idea that, no, everyone's going to do this now because you've seen you can get some joy. But I still don't think that anyone else will set up against us like that. And you would hope Panama, hoping to at least have something to take home from this, will be a little bit more adventurous and that we can exploit that. Yeah, well, Panama, they're out, but they've never picked up a point or even three at a World Cup. So they have a chance to make history, of course. Straight away on the comments, and do get your comments in about all the things we're talking about.

6:47Give us some questions, whatever you fancy. Carbs has said, any advice on how to stay awake till full time if it's like the Garner game? Just Jager bombs. Yeah, Jager bombs. That's sensible advice. Yeah, dip some MauWam in those and just suck away. Suck away, boys. Right then. Let's start with the headline that's dominating the England news at the moment. Rhys James is injured and it's been reported that he suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana and that he will be out for at least two games. Some saying could be the duration of the tournament. Others saying he'll be back for the semifinals or whatever.

7:29It's like, this is exactly what we didn't want to happen. It's frustrating, isn't it? Because, you know, obviously it's too late to kind of call anyone up now. and it's too late to go back in time and change the makeup of the squad. When is it not too late to go back in time? Always at the moment. Or never. I can't quite work out the logic of that. It's my own fault for bringing it into play. He's an injury-prone player, isn't he? It's straightforward. So it's risky not to provide cover for that. But I wonder if Tuchel thinks that he's got enough to cover it anyway. Jed Spence will be the starting right back now.

8:05And he said previously, didn't he, that when Trevor Chalibur came in, that means that Jarrell Quantzer is now seen as one of those right backs. So he's got players there that he trusts to be able to do the jobs in that position. Well, okay, so it's interesting you say that he trusts because I think when the squad was announced, I think, again, whenever any England squad is announced, I'd say 90 % of it people agree with, generally. There'd be the odd player here or there. The 10 % is vociferous, though, very vociferously argued. As it tends to be. but one area was the fullback positions there seemed to be three specialist fullbacks and one of them left before the tournament in Tino Liveramento well okay four specialist fullbacks one of them got injured in Tino Liveramento and then we were left with Rhys James Jed Spence and Nico O 'Reilly of course now O 'Reilly as we know probably more of a midfielder that kind of thing but he has been playing left back so we'll go with and he's been playing well there He's a brilliant player.

9:04There's no doubt about that. People talk about, we should have Lewis Hall and one or two other names. Well, look, the squad is the squad. Here we are. It's too late. We can't have Stuart Pearce. We can't have Stuart Pearce as much as we can have Lewis Hall. Let's move on. Stuart Pearce, I'm sure, is on CoCom somewhere. Probably Talk Sport. But anyway, with Rhys James starting right back, everyone was saying, but he's quite injury prone. And then some say, oh, well, actually, he's played a bit more football. They think, da-da-da-da-da. Here we are. A hamstring injury is notoriously difficult to be rushed back from.

9:34I don't think anybody would want to assume that England will be in a semi-final of this World Cup. Yes, they have a chance to get there. But suddenly going, all right, that's the chat. Jed Spence, surely now, will be the starting right back for England, you would think. And what do you think of that? Who should be the right back? Because do you think it should be Jarrell Kwanzaa? I'm guessing most people would probably think it was Jed Spence, but if you have anything, any disagreements with that, do say. I know one or two of the other players can play there, but clearly he likes Kwanzaa. Esri Kwanzaa is a centre-half rather than a full-back.

10:03Nico O 'Reilly's a starting left-back. If something were to happen to him, it's big Dan Byrne into play. I mean, look, we've got... Well, it would probably be Spence going over to the left and Kwanzaa coming in on the right, maybe. Well, Flux Deluxer says, do you think Tuchel is going to do something normal like playing Jed Spence at right-back or something? Something crazy like playing Dan Byrne there. I mean, this is the problem. I mean, Hazara said, please, as a Toon fan, don't put Byrne at left-back. I mean, England... look, we're not there yet. Currently, at the time of recording, Jed Spence will almost certainly be the right back and Nico O 'Reilly will be the left back.

10:38So we have two full backs. There is concern though, as there was when this squad was announced, that England are a bit light there. Well, Tino went before the tournament and now Rhys James has gone and I'd be surprised if we see him play for England again this summer. But I mean, they have to just move on from it immediately. You know, it is what it is. There are players there to cover in those positions. those players now need to be trusted. Jed Spence has acquitted himself well for England. He's established as a starting full-back for Thomas Tuchel. I know he's got a broken jaw and Tuchel is spending most of his time shouting at him.

11:13So perhaps, you know, it's not quite as harmonious as it all seems. Do you know, it's a bit like Mark Hughes and Saido Berrejino, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, no, not Mark Hughes. It was Tony Fulis. Saido, Saido, Saido, Jed, Saido. Yeah. Not that. What? Just stop doing what you're doing. Yeah, but obviously he trusts him and is happy to tell him when he doesn't think he's doing what he should be doing. So yeah, we can't uninjure Rhys James, can we? No, we can't. We can try, but that would be a waste of everybody's time. It's clear to see. Well, let's move on from the fullback situation, unless there are other comments, please do get them in.

11:54another place where there seems to be some slight injury or muscle soreness in the case of Elliot Anderson is in midfield and this was the other area of the pitch where when Tuchel gave the squad some people were thinking hang on you haven't put in Adam Orden or whoever and there was chat about why is Jordan Henderson there okay he's a good influence and a good guy to have around the camp well we may well see Jordan Henderson play this evening I mean, there's been talk of Declan Rice with his ongoing pain, if you like, sort of pain management. It's not an injury per se. No. Fatigue related. Yes, exactly.

12:35Elliot Anderson may miss the game again with muscle soreness as well. He's played a fair bit of football. So, Kobi Maynou, who is an experienced England player, you have to say, he's very young, but obviously he played a lot in the last Euros. He played in the finals, so he knows what it is to play in midfield for England. and Jordan Henderson would be the other option to come in there. We have a poll in the comments. Maynou or Henderson, who would you like to see come into the side? That's assuming that Declan Rice plays. Yes. So that's that poll. There's also the rogue option of John Stones as a midfielder, which we have seen before.

13:05Yeah. But it's probably unlikely, but you never know. Yeah, who's not so match fit himself. So the squad seems to be wearing a little bit thin, but there's still a bit of thread left to go before it feels too thin. And if there's a time for this to happen, if the case is that Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice just need a bit of rest rather than being actually injured and in danger of missing any games later, this is the time for it. I think a midfield of Jordan Henderson, Kobe Maynou and whoever else, probably Bellingham, should have enough to get this done. Whatever people might think about Henderson's inclusion, he's still a Premier League player, playing regularly.

13:45And I don't think Panama is necessarily going to be the game it was all those suns and moons ago when we beat them 6-1, because as we mentioned already, they've lost those first two games just by a narrow scoreline of 1-0. But again, that should be a midfield that's good enough to get this done. Yeah, it is. It's a massive problem if it isn't. It's a disaster and a failure if it isn't. Yeah, no, I agree with you. Promotion given, it said it's not a free hit this game. No. We need to win to top the group and go on the good side of the bracket. And obviously a win, it would come into goal difference.

14:21I think it's unlikely Ghana hammer Croatia. But, you know, it could happen. Like Croatia get out of man, sent off, you know, you're into that and Ghana win. But England, they've got to win this game. They do, but, right, it's not really a but, I suppose. I have faith that they will because even though the Ghana game was very frustrating, all of that was because of how Ghana set up. England have been really front-footed. and Tuchel's been talking about being a bit more kind of gung-ho as such and trying to sort of press home the advantage we have in terms of being better than most of the scenes that we play.

14:55The Garner performance doesn't make me think that we're suddenly incapable of doing that or not going to approach it like that. And even if it is a makeshift midfield today, which wouldn't be ideal, I would think they'd still take that approach. And I would think it would be enough. Yeah, okay. Well, for you, Jim, as I said, we've got a poll up on one underneath the comments who replaces Elliot Anderson is the question is it Cobby Mainu or Jordan Henderson for you? Mainu absolutely Mainu I think it's it's a relatively bold choice I suppose on paper but he's got some tournament experience already very good player he's fresh he's you know I don't think it's risky to play him at all yeah okay interesting interesting Interesting.

15:43I don't think it's a risk for Cobby Manu. In fact, I kind of want to see Cobby Manu. Oh, absolutely. I'm sure everybody does. Yeah, because I think he's actually one of those players that I think, oh, yeah, that would be good to see him. With Jordan Henderson, I'm quite happy for him to play the role that he's doing. Maybe come on for the last 10, 15 minutes, something like that, if England just need to bolster it, or I don't know what. But I'm not... I have fully accepted that Jordan Henderson will start tonight. So I'm not bothered about it. I've just accepted it. Okay, fair enough. Well, what about some of the other positions?

16:16Going back to Jed Spence, Tubby Brewster says Spence would be helpful for Madueke or Saka on that right side, presumably. The overlap in run will pull defenders wide and create a bit more space for them to exploit inside on their left foot. Again, Jed Spence at right back doesn't worry me. No. What do you think of that? Obviously, you've been an Arsenal fan, you've seen Madueke and Saka. Do you think Spurs man Jed Spence could unite North London in a way? and in a way momentarily if they combine for a goal people would grudgingly accept that wouldn't they but I think it's a good point I mean an overlapping runner for either of those players is ideal and of course the whole point of either flank is getting those players ahead of Kane getting it back so that he can do the business and I think Spence is probably more likely to be effective doing that from the right rather than the left and I think he's actually been very good as a left back as well We could be in a situation where England actually, if we lose any more full-backs or whatever, we start with a back three.

17:16Or wing-backs. Or, I mean, Anthony Gordon is a flying right wing-back. Harry Kane is a sweeper. He sort of does that anyway. I know, he kind of drops back and makes it a back for his life. Is that Kane back there? Well, interesting. What about this on the other side of the pitch? Jebus says, O 'Reilly in midfield. Jed Spence left-back. Jarrell Kwanza at right back surely O 'Reilly we want at left back do we or do you think there's some chance? Well I think if O 'Reilly's going to play as a midfielder he'll play as an attacking midfielder he'll play as the advanced one so I don't think you'd have him in over Jude Bellingham so I see the idea but I don't think Tuchel's likely to consider that What do you think of the chat of if Rice is in there if the reports are accurate and Tuchel goes with that Anderson may not play and obviously Rice you would think would play, Bellingham deeper, the more of us are number eight and then maybe Rodgers comes into the side or Everett Chiesi because there was a lot of chat for that at the last Euros.

18:18And I think the way Bellingham plays, certainly as the game goes on, Bellingham, you know, we know that some of the best football he ever played was when he was played as a false nine for Real Madrid and, you know, he excels there. And obviously when Kane is dropping deep, Bellingham can sort of push up. He's got the engine to do it. He's got the mouse and ability to do it. go up there and make those runs and often help Kane when they want to press the opposition when they're trying to play out from the back or whatever. But Bellingham also does like to get stuck into the midfield as well. Yeah, I'm surprised we've not seen him in a more withdrawn role.

18:54I think possibly every England manager has seen him in training and thought, well this is just a waste of his attacking talents further up the pitch and we've got players in Rice and Anderson who can kind of create that platform for him. But I suppose actually it could be, if Anderson and Rice are not available, it could be that Bellingham, with his kind of authority and his experience even at a relatively young age, could be a good person to have in there. I also wonder if, given the way the ball's moving and the amount of screamers from distance we're seeing, Eberet-Chezzo might be a bit of a cheat code.

19:28I can't see him starting, but it's a consideration, isn't it? He's probably of all the players in the squad, he's the best at taking a shot from distance.

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26:40Let's move on to some of the attacking options. there's been a little bit of chat on that left-hand side with Anthony Gordon maybe not having his best tournament or he only played about three minutes in the last tournament so not having his best time not influencing games as much as we and he would like do you think Gordon should still start because Rashford's come on against Ghana even though obviously there was very little going on in those last bit you'd say maybe added something a little bit more and obviously scored against Croatia I think in the first game most of England's play was directed down the right hand side and most of Croatia's play seemed to be keeping it away from the left fullback who perhaps they didn't trust up against Gordon and I think that's just unfortunate for Gordon isn't it?

27:31He actually couldn't get involved that much through the circumstances of the game more than his own bad performance I think and against Ghana they clogged up the wide areas at every opportunity and it was the same for Madueke really wasn't it so for everybody yeah well exactly so I'm kind of hesitant to agree with this narrative that Gordon's not having a particularly good tournament because I don't think he's had many realistic opportunities where he can actually make an impact through no major fault of his own so if he starts tonight I'll be happy with that but also you know it'd be good to see Rashford get a run out either way because I think we're really well stocked in those areas and I think the idea seems to be that Gordon will do a lot of this sort of diligent pressing and all the tough work and then Rashford will come on and maybe strike the killer blow when the game's a bit more stretched and he's got a bit more space to operate in.

28:18We haven't actually seen it work out. I suppose we did see it work out like that in the first game, didn't we, with his goal. That to me is the argument. I think Gordon is probably better at the doggy work than Rashford is. Oh, for sure. Yeah, without a doubt. Yeah, right. And so I think, therefore, you start Gordon because Gordon, as you say, he's just barely had a kick. And you can blame Gordon for that or you can say he takes his share of the blame. but I do think there's a lot of context and circumstance needed in that kind of chat as you've mapped out. I don't want him having a Harry Kane style role where he can just go where he wants and try and get involved, you know?

28:52Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can't have your winger doing that. No, and so I think, yeah, I think Gordon, I would veer towards the more he's just been a bit unlucky in the opening two games. Not done that much, but then in the Garner game, you know, who did quite frankly, due to Garner's excellent defensive work. So I would still start with Gordon because I think Rashford off the bench is, that is, you know, when you talk about starters and finishes, and people may hate that kind of chat nowadays in football, but it's there. And, you know, Tuchel even talks about it as well. That to me is like the obvious combo there of Gordon starting and Rashford because Rashford, when he comes on and the game is a little bit more open and defenders are tired, I just think he's a very, very handy player to do that.

29:33Agree. You know, as you say, in the second half, it proved to be. have we got the final poll result for Manu or Henderson is it in there it's no not there it's ongoing it's ongoing the results have not been counted oh my goodness how about that alright well what I should say though is if the poll goes in Jordan Henderson's favour which I think it's unlikely to go in his favour if I may checking you know I've seen the exit polls and I think it's unlikely but you never know there could be a swing but if he does play he'll become the first England player in history to appear at four World Cups, I'm reliably informed.

30:09Well, well done, Hendo, if you managed to do that. Yeah, I think when we hear that Ronaldo and Messi have played in six at Mademoiselle. Scored in six as well. Yeah, yeah. I believe they both have. It's like, oh, four, is that it? And you're like, no, but you're comparing them. Yeah. Two of the greatest of all time, et cetera, et cetera. There was once upon a time if you were a one-in-two striker, that was brilliant. You were amazing. And those two, so-and-so's cable log and just ruined it for everybody. There we are. Right, Magician140 says, Gordon's too one-sided. He always wants to go on the outside and international defenders are canny to it.

30:47Start Marcus. It's always good to have a Marcus in there. Bring Gordon off the bench late on, if required, in my opinion. I'm glad he stated it's in his opinion. Magician140 is not talking on behalf of a community there. I think that's a fair assessment of how Gordon operates, but we saw against Costa Rica that actually it can be quite effective. If I may say Magician, I think if you watch Gordon, he tries to go on the outside and I think that's probably, I thought he checked back in too many times. I think Gordon can go either way. Maybe Magician is a Newcastle United season ticket holder and he's seen more of him than me and I would bow to his magic and his authority.

31:26But I think, I still think it's early days for Gordon at this tournament. I'd love him to have a moment. Yeah, I would as well. and my inclination would be that to start Gordon. But there we are. We shall see what Thomas Tuchel comes up with indeed. By the way, if England do finish second in the group, and this is why tonight is a proper game of football and it's one that England need to win and potentially win well, depending on what Ghana do, England would play the runners-up of Group K, who are currently Portugal. What? Yes. How dare FIFA do something like this to us? Yeah, I mean, they're always doing this sort of stuff to us, aren't they?

32:07They are. The convoluted rules designed entirely to mug us off. But if not Portugal, then it would be Colombia. It would be a side I wouldn't be. Ooh, they're very tasty games, though. Win the group, England. Yeah. And then that would probably and all likelihood be followed by Spain. So let's win the group. All right? I think we're all agreed on that. Yeah. Not ready for you to come home yet? No, certainly not. So let's get that group won. but of course if England do win the group then again at the time of recording the two teams that and it's difficult to predict this but the two teams obviously it'd be one of these sides that England are most likely to play is Senegal or DR Congo Senegal will be a tasty game it would I know they've not been great and England would be favourites for the game but that would be tasty it would be tasty but I think that's a classic sort of you know knockout round last 32 though isn't it I'll take that for the last 16 sure but I'm a bit like Let's have somebody easy.

33:00Yeah, but that's just how this World Cup's going to be, isn't it? I want Curacao. I know you do, but at some point... I want Curacao. We have to have a convincing knockout victory against a good team so we can be really buzzy and happy about it. You will be like you were in the piss-up we organised in a brewery where you weren't even drinking. You will be the most intoxicated man in England if England beat Senegal in that round of 32. So you should embrace the idea of that. I should. I should. yeah well let's win the group first Jim so we've got Panama tonight for crying out loud good news though Bakayi Saka apparently is now fully free of pain fully free of discomfort according to Thomas Tuchel if that's the case that is a huge plus for England yeah we heard this towards the end of the season with Arsenal though he had an uptick in form and Mikel Arteta said exactly the same that he's now he's now moving without any restriction and clearly it didn't last for very long because he's been having issues since then as well but if that is the case he will probably start I would think Tuchel you know likes to start him and it is a boost for England if we can see the best of him for sure yeah I would agree again I appreciate it was late on when he came on against Ghana but Saka's a quality player I mean how do you with Madueke I understand Thomas Tuchel is not it's the classic it's the old Alphamsey comment you know I'm not picking the best players I'm picking the players I need you know nobody thinks that even though very different players that like Cole Palmer or Phil Foden are poorer players to say Nani Madueke but he set his stall out early Tuchel I want to play like a Premier League side I want to play physical and fast and all the rest of it and he wants pace out wide on the wings that is why Madueke is there he wants physicality and Madueke is going to provide that of course he would be second choice to Bakara Saka that's evident but Saka is I think he is one that's definitely been worth the risk, you would certainly hope.

34:58That's what Tuchel wants. So I think any kind of chat of, oh, but we... And I kind of like that. I liked it when he picked his squad, Tuchel, and I liked what he was saying. And it's still very, very early days in this tournament. But if Saka can come in there, that's a huge plus. He's obviously got a good understanding with Harry Kane. They've played together for years as well. What I want to see, though, in this game, that we didn't see against Croatia, particularly with Gordon, going back to Anthony Gordon, because there are a number of comments on this, stream where people are still mentioning Anthony Gordon.

35:28If Kane can release him a bit more, then I think that's where you'd see... Release Gordon. Yeah, if Kane can get on the ball and get behind the defenders. Because Gordon at times, against Ghana, was trying to look to get in behind and they were a bit slow. So, we shall see. What about the centre-halves, if I may, Jim? We've seen Esri Kondo start both games. John Stone started the first, Mark Gay came in for the second. and we were told that Gay came in for more recovery pace, a little bit quicker than Stones, so they thought Garner would try and hit England on the break, that kind of thing. Stones is a better ball-playing centre-half.

36:03I don't think anybody would argue that. I'm still hopeful John Stones can play a bit more of a part in this tournament for England. You'd rather him over Gay? Before the tournament, I would have probably had Stones and Gay, but Konza seems to be the starting centre-half. Let's be honest. on another day Konza would be banned from this game there was no dogzo no dogzo nothing to see here thank you bar and everybody involved I think Konza Ezri Konza is a very good centre-half but you think he's particularly I think he's great I think he's really reliable and obviously the phantom dogzo side I think he's a very strong player but I think he's also a very good ball playing centre half and again I think his recovery pace is pretty good he's I don't think he's actually as tall as he seems like he is if that makes sense but he's very very good in the air as well is he going on tiptoes for photos like Cristiano Ronaldo yeah yeah yeah he's lying about his height yeah I've got no issue I would start Konza absolutely I would probably I'd probably go with Gay over Stones as well again I don't I don't think this is this is one that I'm going to be particularly baffled by whether it's Stones or Gay yeah yeah yeah Stone's kind of having a bit of fitness now is ideal, isn't it?

37:25He looked a little bit rusty in that game against Croatia, but the first half, they would kind of get into grips with the tournament, perhaps, based on what Tony Baz said at halftime. Tony Baz. Tony Baz. He's good, isn't he? He is. He's good fun. We've enjoyed Tony Baz so far. And he is the scouser in our team. There you go, yeah. Mark Cassellé, forgive my pronunciation there, Mark, show us a bit more leg markers. Yeah, my shorts have been riding up a bit. I'm going to... They are? Adidas jorts or they're sort of faux jorts aren't they? What's the material they're made of? Cotton. So Adidas cotton faux jorts that you got off vinted.

38:02I mean that is a very very Marcus Pella garment. I'm a 90s man. You are. Proving it with every thread. But yeah thank you for having a look at me legs Mark. I do appreciate that. And if you come to 40 Foot Brewery tonight, then I'll just show you a little bit more. It's not to be too smutty about this. I'll have my legs out too if anyone's interested. Apparently not. Well, Jim, they don't know what's good for them, I would say to that. Should Harry Kane start? Yes. I mean, I do see why some people are saying it would be handy to have Ollie Watkins kind of in the rhythm of the tournament and perhaps it's always valuable to rest players, but I don't think we should be underestimating Panama to the point that we don't play Harry Kane, particularly with potential issues in midfield.

38:49Well, England want to get themselves into a position where you're a few goals up and then you bring on Watkins for Kane, something like that. And I think that maybe some people, myself somewhat included, thought there might be a chance of that against Garner. Well, of course, Garner very much shut that option and, you know, did very well. So that would be good. I do agree with you. It might even be Tony as well. We're assuming it's Watkins. True. But who knows how to do things. Yeah, obviously a different type of player and so on and so forth. Yeah, no, I don't think anybody's going to question the inclusion of Harry Kane.

39:25Call me old-fashioned. But yeah, I would be interested to see what people think about that midfield three that we've been talking about with Rice. Would you put Bellingham back there and have... Tubby Brucer says Rodgers loves a ping. He does. That's true, actually. Yeah, Rodgers and... Rodgers. We might see... will be the entirety of the midfield put Tony and Watkins on up front. Well, Aidan Bloodworth has said, back three and adding Tony up top would be a good idea for this game. I like it. It's bold. Yeah. But it's not what we ultimately want, is it? Probably not. Be honest. I would actually love it if we started with such a bold line.

40:07Ah, bollocks. Here we go. Let's take the salt to these slugs. go full on so the final poll result for the Kobi Menuh or Jordan Henderson debate, the endless debate on who will replace Elliot Anderson if we presume he's not going to be available 17 % of you joining us on this live stream on our YouTube channel have voted for Jordan Henderson he got 17 % It's not bad, is it? It's not too bad. Presumably, the other 83 % went for Kobi Meynu, though. Yeah, there was no middle ground on this. If people did abstain, that doesn't count. So Kobi Meynu, unsurprisingly, is the winner of our poll. Thomas Tuchel, are you listening to us for crying out loud?

40:59If you are listening to us, Thomas, get off the stream. You should be busier today. You should not have time to be listening to us. Yeah, okay. Jordan Henderson, though, might come in handy. although I say that actually but Kobe Mainu's arms are impressive and we may need those arms because Panama's squad contains 35 year old left back he's Panamanian Eric Davis this is setting my Arsenal alarm bells ringing yeah Bukayo Saka's finally playing without pain he's got movement he will be up against a literal wrestler not loving that yeah Eric Davis who was once a national wrestling champion in Panama.

41:40He dances a lot on TikTok as well. He's loving life. He is loving life. He's going to be... Well, I don't know if he's going to be playing in this game. Who knows if Eric Davis will start. What a skill set. Competent wrestler, dancer and footballer. You've got to be loving life in that scenario. But Eric Davis. Eric Davis, it's straight down the line. He's a darts player. Or a wrestler. He is a wrestler. There you go. Yeah, but do you worry that he's going to give Bukau Saka... Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. Absolutely. Totally taking away the man being in a World Cup squad on merit there. But look, he was once a national wrestling champion.

42:13If he body slams someone who doesn't play for Arsenal, I'll be okay with that because he'll probably be sent off. Yeah, true enough. True enough. Shall we finish with a little bit of chat about what's been going on in the England camp? Because we always want an insight, don't we? We've enjoyed the unicorns before and whatever. I forget which inflatables they had this time around. It was Eagles, wasn't it? Eagles, of course, yes. well the England squad have slushy machines in their camp I've seen this surely that's not the most healthiest thing is it some sort of health slushy is it some sort of huel slushy you would hope so wouldn't you yeah in a way I mean bearing in mind Gareth Southgate when he was a child oaty he took away the players putting what would you put in your coffee some sort of syrup maple no not maple syrup I'm not sure what it was but some sort of sweetener there was a sweetener wasn't there they took away see I'm not a coffee guy as you can tell I'll just go straight just have this I'll just knock back the sweetener.

43:06But yeah, the English school, they have slushy machines in their camp with new flavours every day, which are puns on the players' names. Highlights include Blue Kai Osaka. He didn't like that though. Have you seen the video of him seeing that? Oh, I haven't seen it. Just being baffled by it. Walking away from it. Not being good enough. I have no idea what his issue was with it. Thomas Tuchel? Yeah, absolutely. Again, that's quite a wrestler-y name. Tuchel Thomas Tuchel. Yeah. And you know he's got it in him as well. Tuchel could snap, couldn't he? he could start wrestling Eric Davis I think we'd all get behind that I think he'd be really skilled I think he's got an MMA vibe actually I think he could get you in an arm bar before you even realise what was happening for a moment though Jim would you be confused because you have a man with obviously a German name and then you've got a guy who sounds more sort of English wrestling would you think oh who do I cheer for here and then you'd remember that you've got to get behind the England manager I wouldn't engage in any of that kind of thought process to begin with okay okay Stop trying to drag me into some sort of nationalism.

44:06You can rip back the layers quicker than I can. Okay, fair enough. Well, there we are. So England-Panama, I think we are confident and there's good reason to be confident as well. I'm confident it's going to be a narrow win. A narrow win. And go on then. So who would you start in the midfield? Presumably, let's finish with... Tell me who's unavailable in this. Trent Alexander-Arnold. who's in the squad and unavailable. Okay, right. So, Rhys James is unavailable. Elliot Anderson's unavailable. Who are you going at right... Well, go on, the whole team. So, Pickford and Goal, who's right back? Pickford and Goal, Rightford will be...

44:44Right back will be... Rightford. Rightford Fred. Right back is Jed Spence. I'd go for Konza, Gay, O 'Reilly. Okay. I would... I think... If Declan Rice is fit and he trained yesterday, I think he'll play him. So, I assume it will be Rice and Biffield. So, I would go Rice, Maynard Bellingham up front it would be Gordon Kane and if fit Saka so I agree with you what if Rice isn't injured are you having Henderson and Maynard in there I think you have to you've got to yeah I mean there's no other choice that's if Anderson and Rice are both unfit you wouldn't be tempted to John Stones that would be a bit rogue wouldn't it yeah well I don't know that it would be that rogue if Stones had played more even not as a midfielder I think maybe but I would trust him in there either way but I Yeah, I mean, Henderson is a specialist midfielder and has a lot more experience there, so I'd probably start him there.

45:37And like I said earlier, if that is the midfield, I'm still confident. I am feeling confident. I think England should beat Panama. If not, then we should give the knockout spot to Scotland, maybe. I don't like the idea of playing Senegal in the next round, if indeed that happens. But then, as you say, Jim, I have to stop being a coward at some point. Well, let's trust the boys. You're milk toast. Let's get behind the boys, Jim Campbell. What one word would you say to encourage the boys tonight going into that Panama game? That's exactly right, Jim. That's exactly right. Come on, England. Here we go.

46:15Thanks for joining us. If you come in a 40-foot brewery later for our watch party, we'll see you there. Grab one of these off a lamppost if you can. And if you haven't worked out your plans yet, there's still time to get a ticket, of course. Just click the link in the description. I promise it'll be a great night. There'll be handshakes and hugs from me for me as well. If you want to do that to me, I'm very open for that. There'll be goals from England. There'll be a very happy Jim Campbell as well. There'll be pints of my fizzy art. It'll be a beautiful time. I'll see you later.

46:52The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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