Tuesday 19 June 2018 17:51, UK
Raheem Sterling's place in the England team was the subject of debate among the World Cup Supplement panel after the 2-1 win over Tunisia.
The Manchester City forward missed a gilt-edged chance in the opening stages at the Volgograd Arena and struggled to make an impact before being replaced by Marcus Rashford midway through the second half.
Rashford and fellow substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek were praised for their performances from the bench as Harry Kane's late second goal sealed the win, so should Sterling be dropped against Panama?
Henry Winter, the chief football writer for the Times, and Andy Dunn, the chief sports writer for The Mirror, had differing opinions.
"Raheem Sterling is integral to England's progress in this tournament," Winter told the World Cup Supplement podcast.
"I was very impressed with Loftus-Cheek when he came on. We're expecting massed ranks of Panama defenders and Loftus-Cheek has got that intricate ball skill, he can weave it and create chances, but I'm a believer in Sterling.
"I would actually continue to play him. I would play him in the same role but maybe allow him just a little bit more freedom to move slightly wider and attack inside as he does so effectively for Manchester City.
"When we did one of these programmes before the tournament and we were all asked who we thought England's most important player was going to be, I think the majority of us said Sterling followed by Kane.
"Now you would probably say Kane, but I just think that with that pace and his history, whether it's at Liverpool, whether it's at Manchester City, Sterling does bounce back because he's got that ability."
"I probably said the same about Sterling ahead of this tournament," said Dunn, "but I also remember saying exactly the same about him ahead of the previous tournament, Euro 2016, and it didn't work out.
"We talk about players being rested but I think if he doesn't play he's dropped. I thought he really struggled last night. He caused problems early but then I just thought he struggled to actually make any sort of mark on the game. He was picking the wrong pass, his control was letting him down.
"When he came off and Southgate put his arm around him, it sort of felt like a lot of people are having to put their arm around Sterling at the moment - either literally or metaphorically.
"Pep Guardiola put his arm around him with the telephone call after Euro 2016, the players did it when there was the kerfuffle over his tattoo ahead of the tournament. He's been at the centre of debate but I think now it's purely a football thing.
"I just think that you've got Marcus Rashford there chomping at the bit. He had a fantastic game in the friendly against Costa Rica at Elland Road. Okay, he came on last night and he didn't score, but he lifted things a little along with Loftus-Cheek.
"I know Southgate is a massive fan of Sterling but I think he would be quite within his rights to drop him for the Panama game.
"He hasn't scored a goal since October 2015 for England, and that was against Estonia. His only previous goal was against Lithuania.
"I know what he brings. He's got game-changing moments. He can draw two or three defenders and release someone, I know that. But there comes a time at a World Cup when you need a little bit more than that."
