England go head-to-head with Belgium for top spot in the group after Harry Kane’s hat-trick in an historic 6-1 demolition of Panama.
Gareth Southgate’s side thanked a Harry Kane brace for their last-gasp win over Tunisia and Ruben Loftus-Cheek stepped in for injured Dele Alli, but Panama used the same XI that lost 3-0 to Belgium.
The Central Americans wasted a golden opportunity on the counter after four minutes with Anibal Godoy’s horrible mis-kick. Instead, John Stones was allowed a free header on a corner to give England the lead.
England go head-to-head with Belgium for top spot in the group after Harry Kane’s hat-trick in an historic 6-1 demolition of Panama.
Gareth Southgate’s side thanked a Harry Kane brace for their last-gasp win over Tunisia and Ruben Loftus-Cheek stepped in for injured Dele Alli, but Panama used the same XI that lost 3-0 to Belgium.
The Central Americans wasted a golden opportunity on the counter after four minutes with Anibal Godoy’s horrible mis-kick. Instead, John Stones was allowed a free header on a corner to give England the lead.
Jesse Lingard went down under a slight nudge from Fidel Escobar and Harry Kane converted the penalty with remarkable power into the near top corner. That meant all four of England’s goals in the World Cup so far came from set plays.
Lingard then broke that run with a right-foot curler into the far top corner from outside the D.
They were back to dead-ball situations again for the fourth, a free kick routine finding Raheem Sterling’s header for a save into the path of Stones.
Panama were in their first ever World Cup and it showed, as before half-time Godoy wrestled Kane to the ground for another penalty, which the Tottenham striker converted.
Kane completed his hat-trick almost by accident, as a Loftus-Cheek effort took a massive deflection and looped up over the Panamanian goalkeeper. It was the first time the Three Lions had ever scored five goals in a major tournament.
Panama nearly got a consolation goal when Michael Murillo sprung the offside trap, but Jordan Pickford rushed off his line to get something on the dinked finish, then Ramon Torres somehow failed to tap in a corner at the back post.
They did eventually get their first ever World Cup goal, as veteran Felipe Baloy came sliding on to a free kick totally unmarked.
England 6-1 Panama
Stones 8, 40 (E), Kane pens 20, 45, 62 (E), Lingard 36 (E), Baloy 78 (P)
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier (Rose 70), Loftus-Cheek, Henderson, Lingard (Delph 63), Young; Sterling, Kane (Vardy 63)
Panama: Penedo; Murillo, R Torres, Escobar, Davis; Barcenas (Arroyo 69), Cooper, Gomez (Baloy 69), Godoy (Avila 63), J Rodriguez; Perez
Ref: Grisha (EGY)