Jude Bellingham was thrilled as England achieved their first World Cup aim with a 2-0 win over a cussed Panama facet to prime Group L.
Thomas Tuchel’s facet have been pissed off for a lot of the primary hour on the New York/New Jersey Stadium, with Marcus Rashford seeing quite a lot of possibilities.
Nevertheless, within the 62nd minute, Bellingham made a decisive breakthrough when he transformed Bukayo Saka’s outswinging nook kick into the underside left nook.
5 minutes later, Bellingham transformed for England’s second aim, however his shot was curled into the again of the web by Harry Kane. With 11 targets, Kane turned England’s all-time main scorer on the World Cup, passing Gary Lineker (10).
Actually, at 22 years and 363 days outdated, Bellingham turned the youngest English participant on document (since 1966) to concurrently rating and help in a World Cup match, and solely the fourth Three Lions total.
The win means England, who had already booked their place within the final 32 earlier than kick-off, cross Group L prime of the desk and can face the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the subsequent spherical.
“The primary job has been completed. We got here right here to do it part by part and now we now have completed the primary aim, which is to get by the group and take first place,” Bellingham informed reporters after the sport.
“We knew what stage we wished to attain and we achieved it within the second half. We have to enhance each recreation and it is as much as us to attain that.”
“The help was a great mixture of play and the (England World Cup goalscoring) document is all the things Harry Kane deserves.”
Bellingham’s breakthrough #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tDF3ms5Hcc
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 27, 2026
Panama, then again, will depart the World Cup with three consecutive wins, however they gave England a troublesome take a look at regardless of being eradicated earlier than the ultimate match.
The Central American staff turned the sixth staff to lose their first six video games on the World Cup, with 50% of them reaching the milestone on this match (additionally Haiti and Iraq).
Thomas Christiansen’s facet defended nicely for a lot of the match and tried to counter England as a lot as potential, however they in the end conceded simply after the hour mark.
After the match, Panama winger Jose Luis Rodriguez informed RPC radio: “I am very pleased with the staff’s efficiency. Ultimately, we did not get the end result we anticipated, however we competed till the top.”
“We did not surrender. Most likely within the first few video games we have to be extra resourceful in entrance of aim, like we have been on this recreation.
“However I am very pleased with how we performed within the match, as a result of ultimately we fought and did not surrender and it remained.
“We tried to shut the areas nicely and play on the counter-attack. After all within the second half we determined to take a little bit extra dangers, however on the finish of the day that is soccer. I want to thank my teammates for preventing till the top.”
