'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England qualified for the Round of 16 from Group G, with a thumping 6-1 victory over lowly Panama. The Three Lions scored five first-half goals, to render the second period just academic, and make their last game against Belgium decisive only to see who takes top spot in the group.
John Stones set England away with an early header from a Kieran Trippier corner before the floodgates well and truly opened.
Jesse Lingard was fouled in the box by Fidel Escobar, for captain Harry Kane to convert his first penalty of the day. Lingard trebled the lead with an absolutely beautiful curler from outside the box.
Stones got England's fourth and his second, with another header, before Kane converted another penalty before the break. Kane got his hat-trick, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek's left-footed shot deflecting off him before Felipe Baloy scored Panama's first ever World Cup goal, lending context to scant consolation.
Here are the best and worst performers on the pitch at a hot Nizhny Novgorod:
#5 Best - Jesse Lingard
The intelligence of his movement from midfield makes him an immense threat in Gareth Southgate's 3-5-2 system. He displayed that running ability throughout the game, as he made several intelligent runs, which the Panama defence had no answer to.
Just past the 20-minute mark, one of those Lingard runs was picked out by Kyle Walker, and the Manchester United man just chested the ball in front of him, before getting sandwiched by Fidel Escobar and Roman Torres, to win England a penalty.
In the 36th minute, he proceeded to go one better though. He started the move by picking the ball up on the left flank, playing the ball to Raheem Sterling.
That was when Lingard summed up his game, by not staying still after playing the pass. He continued his run, to allow Sterling to play the return pass through to him, before unleashing a curler that gave Jaime Penedo no chance in the Panama goal.
In the absence of Dele Alli, it was up to Lingard to provide England that drive from midfield, and he took up the responsibility willingly.
Follow Sportskeeda for 2018 World Cup Scores, Latest News & Updates, Match Analysis, Detailed Stats, Fantasy Tips, Controversies, Match Predictions and much more.
#2 Worst - Michael Murillo
The right-back was among Panama's more promising performers in their opening game against Belgium, but in this game, he was found thoroughly out of his depth, as he was caught napping on several occasions.
He could not deal with the swiftness and intelligence of England's movement, and also played a big part in the goals that Panama conceded.
For the first goal, he was tasked with picking up John Stones from the corner, but he allowed the English centre-back to make a run past him, to easily slot the header past Penedo.
Murillo was also very ineffective while going forward, in the limited opportunities that Panama had.
He also had a huge chance midway through the second half, when he was played through one-on-one with Jordan Pickford, but his attempted dink over the England no. 1 only hit the goalkeeper's knee, and England could clear the danger.
Panama clearly needed more from the right-back, whose thrust could have made a difference on another day.
#3 Best - John Stones
Of course, the Manchester City man will be annoyed that he could not get his clean sheet on the day, given that he is a defender, but he had his memorable World Cup day out today.
Panama showed against Belgium that they weren't going to be an easy side to break down from open play, so England's prowess from dead-ball situations was going to be extremely crucial.
That only took six minutes for England to pounce upon, as Kieran Trippier's corner was headed home by Stones, who was inexplicably left unmarked in the penalty area. He made no mistake with an unerring finish into the bottom corner.
He added to his tally, with another clever set-piece routine from England. Jordan Henderson's chip into the box was headed towards Raheem Sterling by Harry Kane, but the winger's header was saved by Penedo. Unfortunately for Panama, his parry only fell straight on to the head of Stones, who made no mistake from close range.
Follow Sportskeeda for 2018 World Cup Scores, Latest News & Updates, Match Analysis, Detailed Stats, Fantasy Tips, Controversies, Match Predictions and much more.
#2 Worst - Fidel Escobar
The Panama centre-back had the unenviable responsibility of having to shackle Harry Kane, and it was one that he failed at.
Panama tried to impose their physicality on England from the first minute, with Jesse Lingard getting an elbow to his mouth, as early as the second minute.
But there really was no clear gameplan from Panama otherwise, given their physicality was outdone by England's nous, and in many ways, by themselves being overzealous.
They took their physical approach a little too far, on multiple occasions, giving away a large number of needless fouls, especially in the first half. Given what England showed from set-pieces against Tunisia, it was self-inflicted damage from Panama.
Escobar, along with Roman Torres, was at the centre of it, grappling with every England player at every opportunity they could find.
They paid the price for it very early in the game, when they both contrived to bring Lingard down and gift England a penalty.
The day didn't get much better for Escobar, who was continually found out by the pace and movement of Lingard and Sterling.
Follow Sportskeeda for 2018 World Cup Scores, Latest News & Updates, Match Analysis, Detailed Stats, Fantasy Tips, Controversies, Match Predictions and much more.
#1 Best - Harry Kane
Captain Fantastic, eh? 5 goals in his first two World Cup games, is a flying start for the English skipper, who wouldn't score an easier hat-trick in his life if he tried.
England were gifted two penalties, by Panama's stupidity, but that is where Kane's mental strength stood out.
He was made to wait for a considerable amount of time before taking both the penalties, and he unerringly smashed both of them into the left corner, to go level with Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku in the Golden Boot race.
He took sole custody of the lead in that race in the second half, but he really didn't know much about it.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek's hard left-footed effort flicked off the back of Kane's boot and wrong-footed Penedo in the Panama goal.
Kane and Lukaku will go head-to-head in the next game, which will decide who tops Group G but could also decide who goes into knockout stages with an upper hand in the race for the Golden Boot.
Follow Sportskeeda for 2018 World Cup Scores, Latest News & Updates, Match Analysis, Detailed Stats, Fantasy Tips, Controversies, Match Predictions and much more.
