England, Portugal eye top spots as World Cup group stages wrap up

LOS ANGELES: 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 labored 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