Jude Bellingham stepped up to break the deadlock for England, but Thomas Tuchel’s reaction was instructive: he did not celebrate. He looked annoyed. The England manager’s side had just taken the lead against Panama after a drab, goalless first half in which they struggled to prise apart another obdurate opponent, and the relief was palpable. But for Tuchel, the performance only deepened the worries about how his team might fare against elite opposition.
Bellingham’s goal came from a low volley expertly steered home from Bukayo Saka’s corner. Minutes later, the Real Madrid midfielder turned provider, jinking past a defender before crossing for Harry Kane to head in England’s second. Kane’s 11th World Cup goal took him past Gary Lineker as the nation’s all-time top scorer in the tournament, a record that brought a brief moment of cheer.
“England beat Panama 2-0 to win Group L, but Thomas Tuchel's frustrations linger as Harry Kane sets a new World Cup goals record.”
But the overriding emotion was not jubilation. The Guardian’s David Hytner noted that when the fans joined in a rendition of Wonderwall at the final whistle, “it did not feel jubilant.” England had secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 win, ensuring they will face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday as group winners. But the display raised more questions than answers.
Panama exited with zero points, having failed to score at either of their World Cup appearances, but they went with a measure of pride. Tuchel now has plenty to ponder across his team, from the lack of creativity in the first half to the wide options that remain a concern. Marcus Rashford’s performance, in particular, drew criticism.
Elsewhere, Scotland’s early exit was confirmed after Croatia beat Ghana 2-1, and manager Steve Clarke stepped down from his post in the aftermath. For England, the path ahead is clear but the path to improvement is not. As one observer put it: “England are not going to win the World Cup playing like this.”