England’s Group L probably sits somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of difficulty.

At 33rd and 74th, respectively, the Three Lions will see Panama and Ghana as winnable matches, but the addition of Croatia means Group L is one of only two groups in the entire tournament that includes more than one team from the top 11 of the FIFA rankings.

So, should Thomas Tuchel’s men win their opener against Luka Modric and co, England will feel good about topping the group. Should they let anything slip, the path to the final gets considerably more complicated.

Here is how both scenarios could play out.

If England Win Group L

Topping the group sends England into a round of 32 tie against a third-placed finisher from Group E, H, I, J or K. The most likely opponents from that pool include the Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Uruguay, Senegal, Norway or Colombia.

England would then face the winners of Group A, most likely Mexico, on home soil at the Estadio Azteca. It’s a fixture England has dominated over the years. Their only competitive meeting was a 2-0 England win in the group stage of the ‘66 World Cup, but England have come out on top in five of the eight friendlies the nations have staged.

If England get past Mexico, it ramps up considerably. Brazil could lie in wait in the quarter-finals. They’re expected to top Group C and navigate their way through the early knockout rounds with relative ease, unless Morocco, the dark horses of the tournament pull off a surprise.

Should England make the last four, Argentina or Portugal would likely be waiting, and what a quarter-final that would be in itself. England would meet either Messi or Ronaldo should they make it past the Selecao, with both players knowing that this is likely their last tournament.

The last time England beat either side in a major tournament knockout stage was on their way to winning the World Cup in 1966, where they beat Argentina in the quarter-finals, and then Portugal in the semis.

Spain look the most probable opponents in the final. They’re on the opposite side of the draw from England, and would likely face France in the semis, who, in reality, have every chance of being there as well. Spain beat England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin, so the opportunity for revenge on the grandest stage possible wouldn’t be lost on anyone.

If England Finish Second in Group L

Finishing second flips England onto the other side of the bracket entirely, and the path immediately becomes tougher. Their round of 32 opponents would be the runners-up from Group K, most likely Colombia, who sit in a group alongside Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

Win there, and Spain await in Dallas. The European champions are expected to top Group H and come through the next round comfortably, meaning the Euro 2024 final rematch might not require both sides to make it to the final.

Beating Spain to reach a quarter-final would be a monumental achievement in itself. Belgium are the most likely opponents at that stage, as potential Group G winners, arguably the easiest of the tournament. Though the USA, as co-hosts, can’t be ruled out either.

France have a tough route through the draw on this side of the bracket, with clashes against Germany and the Netherlands likely, but if anyone has the squad to navigate that gauntlet, it’s them. England would come face-to-face with the nation that eliminated them from the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Argentina could be England’s opponents in the final on this route. The holders may face Portugal in the quarters and navigate a tough semi-final, but Messi’s side are chasing back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in almost a century. After two doses of heartbreak in finals at the last two Euros, England would then have to get past the GOAT to avoid a third and lift the World Cup.

Three years on from one of the most drawn-out takeover sagas, the question over Manchester United’s ownership has resurfaced and inevitably, so has the name of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Qatari businessman came closer than anyone to purchasing 100% of the club from the Glazer family back in 2023, and with fresh reports of certain Glazer siblings now pushing for a sale, speculation about a renewed approach from his camp was always going to follow.

But will he actually come back?

How Close was Sheikh Jassim to Buying Manchester United?

When the Glazers opened up the bidding process in late 2022, Sheikh Jassim quickly emerged as the most ambitious suitor. His Nine Two Foundation tabled multiple offers, eventually understood to be in the region of £5 billion, promising to clear the club’s debt entirely and invest heavily in the stadium, training ground and squad. It was exactly what United fans had been crying out for.

But it wasn’t enough. The Glazers ultimately favoured Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposal for a partial stake, with the INEOS billionaire completing a deal worth around £1.25 billion for just under 30% of the club. A source close to the Qatari group later said they felt the goalposts had “continually changed” throughout the process and that they had been left feeling used.

Ratcliffe’s time in charge has done little to ease the frustration of the United fanbase. Mass redundancies, repeated managerial changes, and even a reduction in staff Christmas bonuses have kept the club in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Will Sheikh Jassim Make Another Bid for Man Utd?

So, with the Glazers now reportedly entertaining the idea of a full sale again, has Sheikh Jassim reconsidered?

According to the Mail Online, the answer is a firm no, at least for now. A fresh bid is described as “highly unlikely,” with those close to the group said to be “scarred” by the way the 2023 process played out.

Crucially, Sheikh Jassim’s consortium hasn’t even been approached to gauge their interest, which in itself says something about where things stand between the two parties. The ambition was never in question; his 2023 statement set out a sweeping vision to make United “the greatest football club in the world.”

But ambition and appetite are two different things, and right now, the appetite is nowhere to be seen.

United dreamed of what his involvement might have looked like, so this will feel like a disappointing update. But you never know when things might re-ignite. Newcastle’s takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) was dead in the water, but a year later, the deal was back on the table, and they became the richest team in the world overnight.

Liverpool are entering a new era at Anfield under Andoni Iraola for next season, and they have now been given a major boost in their bid to sign a top Tottenham Hotspur star.

The Reds have seen Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson depart the club at the end of their contract this month, and that means that defensive reinforcements are being eyed as a priority for the transfer window, with Iraola keen to ensure they don’t ship more than 50 goals again.

One of the top targets for Liverpool in recent months has been Spurs star Micky Van de Ven, with the centre-back understood to be very keen on making the switch to Merseyside.

Liverpool Get Major Van de Ven Boost

Van de Ven, who has been described as ‘world-class’, has been expected to depart the north London club after they narrowly avoided relegation for a second consecutive season, with the Netherlands star playing a key role in keeping them in the top flight.

Spurs are also looking to bolster their squad and have already brought in Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson on a free transfer. Now manager Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that he is preparing for an exit by getting the club to table a big offer for Brighton star Jan Paul van Hecke.

While the offer was rejected, with Brighton pointing to their £70m valuation, Spurs are confident of getting a deal done and have already agreed personal terms with the Netherlands international.

While there is an expectation that Cristian Romero will leave too, Liverpool’s interest in Van de Ven simply cannot be ignored in this situation, and should Tottenham bring in Van Hecke, then it would likely be a major boost to their plans to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield.

Van de Ven Would be a Gamechanging Signing

Liverpool are in desperate need of a new central defender to come in and strengthen the squad after Konate’s departure, and they need whoever it is to be ready to make an immediate impact.

Jeremy Jacquet has already agreed a deal to join the club and will arrive to provide competition, while Iraola will be hopeful that young Italian defender Giovanni Leoni can return from his knee injury and continue to be a top prospect.

But with Virgil Van Dijk turning 35 before the season starts, another first-team ready option is needed to ensure standards are maintained, and Van de Ven would be perfect if a deal can be found.