The Three Lions are on the prowl again, but this time they'll be facing a Panama outfit that's proven to be anything but pushover material in their World Cup opener. England's impressive 6-1 thrashing of a hapless Belgium has left them top of Group G, and with four points from two matches under their belt, the Three Lions are riding high.
However, those who write off Panama as mere minnows would be making a grave mistake. Under the tutelage of former Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen, the Panamanians have shown a willingness to think on their feet and adapt their tactics mid-match. We've seen them press aggressively from opposition goal-kicks in a 4-4-2 formation, with the ability to switch to a more compact mid-block in a 5-3-2 when opponents get past their initial defensive line.
This fluidity of approach means that England can't afford to take their foot off the pedal. If Panama choose to press high, England's forwards will need to be on their toes to exploit the space behind the Panamanian backline. Conversely, if Christiansen's side opt for a more defensive setup, Gareth Southgate's men will have to adjust their game plan to break down a stubborn defence.
One area where England can gain an upper hand is in exploiting Panama's defensive width. When operating in a 5-4-1 formation with four midfielders, the Panamanians may struggle to cover the full width of the pitch as effectively as teams employing five midfielders – just ask Croatia, who scored against them from this very weakness.
Manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics have been observed to be centred around keeping wingers high and wide, drawing out the opposition wing-backs and creating space between centre-backs and wing-backs. Expect a similar approach from Southgate on Saturday as England look to unlock Panama's backline and take all three points.
Despite being without their star player Adalberto Carrasquilla due to injury, Panama have shown flashes of genuine quality in their previous matches. They're no pushovers, and England will need to be at the top of their game to emerge victorious.