For an hour in the teeming rain at MetLife Stadium, England looked like a team that could forget winning the World Cup. Panama, ranked 42nd in the world, had frustrated Thomas Tuchel's side, their low block resisting everything thrown at it. Another vulnerable defensive display had even offered the underdogs hope. But then Jude Bellingham delivered a moment of world-class brilliance — an instinctive volley from a corner that broke the deadlock. Harry Kane added a second, and England had done the first part of their job: winning Group L with a 2-0 victory.
"It was hard work," Tuchel told BBC Sport. "We were ready for that. I said we so often get carried away with our expectations and what we demand of ourselves. We demanded to win the group and this is the day we did this." The win booked a last-32 tie against DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday (17:00 BST). But if the first hour against Panama raised questions, the second half answered some of them — though not all.
“England beat Panama 2-0 to top Group L but warned they must improve to win the World Cup.”
Bellingham, whose place in the starting XI had been debated before the tournament, produced a game-changing performance after also scoring the crucial goal against Croatia. He worked in tandem with Morgan Rogers, while Declan Rice was rested with a hamstring injury and on a yellow card. That left Elliot Anderson overworked as a single pivot, and England still looked vulnerable on the counter — Panama had big chances late on, including Jose Fajardo being lost by Ezri Konsa in injury time. Jarell Quansah limped off, replaced by Djed Spence.
Bukayo Saka made an impact off the bench, and two of England's five goals in the tournament have come from set pieces reminiscent of Arsenal's routines. But the wider concerns remain. Writing on BBC Sport, chief football writer Phil McNulty said: "England did their job topping the group — but they can forget winning the World Cup if they do not improve." Tuchel insists "the bigger the games, the bigger his side will get." Atlanta will be the first test of that theory.