England manager Thomas Tuchel has implemented five changes to the starting lineup for the team's final World Cup group game against Panama, notably selecting Jarell Quansah at right back. This marks Quansah's fourth senior cap for England.
The defensive adjustment comes after Reece James was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The team faced further selection challenges when Tino Livramento withdrew from the squad due to a calf injury on the eve of the tournament. Despite Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence having prior experience at right back, Tuchel has chosen the Under-21 European Championship winner Quansah for the starting role.
Tuchel's decision to exclude Trent Alexander-Arnold from the squad has drawn criticism. He had previously opted for Trevoh Chalobah over the Real Madrid defender after Livramento's withdrawal.
In other defensive changes, Nico O'Reilly will start at left back, replacing Spence. Midfielder Declan Rice has been rested as a precautionary measure and will be replaced by Morgan Rogers in what appears to be an attacking-minded shift by the England manager.
The forward line has also been revamped, with Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka earning their first starts of the tournament. They will join Harry Kane in a new-look front three. Anthony Gordon, who has struggled to make a significant impact in the opening two matches, and Noni Madueke will be on the bench.
England requires a victory to secure the top position in Group L. Should either Ghana or Croatia achieve a better result in their respective matches, they would finish above England.