By Paul Giblin
MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- England coach Gareth Southgate will make at least one change when his side play Panama in their second Group G game of the World Cup on Sunday.
Although midfielder Dele Ali returned to training on Friday after suffering a minor thigh strain in Monday's 2-1 win against Tunisia, Southgate is unlikely to risk him, with Ruben Loftus Cheek, who replaced the Tottenham man for the last 10 minutes against Tunisia expected to get the nod.
Loftus Cheek, spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea and showed enough to earn a place ahead of the less attack minded, Fabian Delph who spend several minutes warming up in the first half when Ali originally suffered the injury.
England created and missed plenty of chances in a bright first half against Tunisia, but needed an injury time header from Harry Kane to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start.
Those missed chances may prompt Southgate into further changes with Marcos Rashford in for Raheem Sterling, while there are calls for Danny Rose to replace Ashley Young at left back. Young didn't play badly against Tunisia, but the fact he is naturally right footed, means he tends to check inside to cross with his right foot, while the left footed Rose is more adapted to taking the ball in his stride.
The defense will remain the same and the impressive Harry Maguire will be important in defending Panama's dangerous long throws into the England penalty area.
A win for England would give them six points and depending on the result between Belgium and Tunisia, could see them into the last 16 ahead of what is in theory the toughest game of the group when they face the Belgians on June 28th.
Panama lost 3-0 to Belgium in their opening match, after holding Roberto Martinez's side to 0-0 for the first 45 minutes and their physical approach, which earned them five yellow cards was criticized by Martinez after the game.
However, Panama coach 'Bolillo' Gomez and his players are unlikely to change their approach against England, continuing a defensive 4-5-1 formation and inviting England to attack them.
Defender Harold Cummings commented that Panama would be "hard," and that they would "compete" without looking at the names on the back on the England shirts.
