Harry Kane became England's all-time leading World Cup scorer with his 11th goal in the competition – a header from Jude Bellingham's cross – as Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Panama 2-0 on Saturday night to secure top spot in Group L.
Kane’s strike doubled England’s lead at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, overtaking Gary Lineker’s record of 10 goals. But it was Bellingham who had broken the deadlock, sweeping home Bukayo Saka’s corner after a first half in which the Three Lions laboured against a stubborn Panama low block.
“Harry Kane became England's all-time World Cup top scorer as Jude Bellingham inspired a 2-0 win over Panama.”
Tuchel had made five changes, resting Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon while handing starts to Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford. The German's reshuffle – which included Jarell Quansah for James, Connor O'Reilly for Spence, Rogers for Rice, Saka for Madueke, and Rashford for Gordon – was partly injury-enforced and partly tactical. Rogers was largely anonymous, but the decision to deploy Bellingham deeper in Rice’s absence paid dividends.
The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was everywhere: recovering the ball when Rashford lost it, turning out of trouble, drawing fouls. After he swept home Saka’s corner, he turned provider moments later, teeing up Kane for the record-breaking header. “It’s coming home” rang out around the stadium at full-time.
England will now face the best third-placed team from Group I, J, or K in the last-32, with Rice expected to return fresh for the knockout stage. While the performance was not entirely convincing – the side had also failed to score against Ghana – Bellingham’s second-half brilliance ensured the job was done.