Kane Breaks Record

LIVE starting at 11 p.m.: England faces Panama

The “Three Lions” celebrate winning the group.(Bild: AFP/MATTIA OZBOT)

Mission accomplished—Thomas Tuchel’s English squad clinched first place in the group with a 2-0 victory over Panama. The Central Americans were eliminated without scoring a single goal. 

England concluded the group stage of the World Cup in North America with a 2-0 (0-0) victory over Panama. Jude Bellingham (62') and Harry Kane (67') secured first place in Group L for coach Thomas Tuchel’s team with their goals on Saturday at the final stadium in East Rutherford. The “Three Lions” will thus play their Round of 16 match on Wednesday in Atlanta (6:00 p.m.). For Panama, however, their second World Cup appearance has been a complete wash—they head home with no points and no goals.

England made severallineupchanges
Tuchelrotatedhis starting lineup, making five changes: Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Bukayo Saka were given the chance to create havoc on the attack from the start, while Declan Rice, among others, was given a breather. Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, played slightly deeper than usual. In rainy conditions, England was the dominant team as expected, but underdog Panama—featuring LASK defender Andres Andrade—didn’t shy away and defended compactly. Marcus Rashford fired off an early warning shot, which Orlando Mosquera saved (8th minute). Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was alert to a shot by Jose Luis Rodriguez (26th minute). Rashford’s attempts—a header (38th minute) and a free kick (45+3)—lacked precision.

Harry Kane celebrated his record-breaking goal.(Bild: AFP/MATTIA OZBOT)

Bellingham breaks the deadlock
In the second half, the European Championship runners-up nearly took the lead on an own goal by the underdog. Jose Cordoba struck Andrade in front of his own goal, but the rebound went just over the crossbar (52'). Kane was then denied by Mosquera (57'). After a corner by Saka, Bellingham finally broke the deadlock and scored with his left foot. The Real Madrid star assisted on the 2-0 goal shortly afterward, with Kane heading in his cross. For the Bayern Munich striker, it was his eleventh World Cup goal (an English record), moving him past Gary Lineker (10).

Panama’s goal didn’t count
 Panama’sconsolation goal in stoppage time by substitute Jose Fajardodidn’t countdue to offside (91st minute). The Central Americans remain without a point at World Cups, having suffered six losses in six matches.

FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Group L (3rd round):

Panama – England 0–2 (0–0) 
East Rutherford, New Jersey, 80,663 spectators, Referee Al Jassim (QAT)

Goals: 0–1 (62') Bellingham, 0–2 (67') Kane

Panama: Mosquera – Murillo, Escobar, Cordoba, Andrade, Gutierrez (88. Davis) – C. Martinez, Harvey (88. Quintero), Barcenas (71. Diaz), J. Rodriguez (71. Londono) – T. Rodríguez (46' Fajardo)

England: Pickford – Quansah (63' Spence), Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly – Anderson (84' Henderson), Bellingham (71' Eze) – Saka (63' Madueke), Rogers, Rashford – Kane (84' Watkins)

Yellow cards: Fajardo, Andrade and Quansah