England v Panama Player Ratings
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s starting role was the only change from the Tunisia game as Gareth Southgate opted to retain Raheem Sterling against Panama after all. Ten minutes in and, after the now traditional non-penalty award for holding in the area, John Stones directed a strong header into the corner for 1-0, setting up a stroll to qualification for the knockout stages.
The Panamanians were quick and tough though an early yellow card for them didn’t quite keep their more aggressive tendencies in check. Barcenas’ off-target effort aside, Panama offered danger but not much of a goal threat before Jesse Lingard was fouled when through on goal. After a VAR check and a lot of diversionary nonsense from the opposition, Kane stepped up and smashed the ball into the back of the net – 2-0 half way through the first half.
For a brief spell after the penalty England sat back which might have proved costly but on 35 minutes Sterling received the ball on the edge of the area then pushed it smartly to MOTM Lingard. The Manchester United man took one touch before curling it beautifully into the right corner for England’s third.
5 minutes later and it was 4-0. Trippier found Henderson from a set-piece who crossed it to the right for Kane to nod back across goal. Sterling nearly scored but Stones quickly reacted and headed in his second – the free kick routine bamboozling the Panama defence completely.
Even then the scoring wasn’t finished. At last Kane was awarded a penalty for being wrestled in the area and he was ruthless once again, with more or less a direct replica of his first. Two for Stones, two for Kane – making him joint top scorer with four – and 5-0 to England at half-time.
The second half couldn’t live up to the first, and didn’t need to, but Kane netted his hat-trick to become the leading scorer in the tournament when Loftus-Cheek’s shot hit him and deflected in. That was Kane’s last action before he, Lingard and Trippier were replaced by Vardy, Delph and Rose.
By this stage Panama just wanted a goal to try and save face and it duly arrived from a set-piece. Curled in from the left by Ricardo Avila the England defence was caught in two minds and Felipe Baloy capitalised with a smart finish. It was a disappointing goal to concede, not least because it deprived England of outright top spot in the group on goal difference, but it did not detract from the overall performance.
Of course the opposition was found wanting but this was a hell of a result for England and, given the defensive frailties of Belgium and historically of their coach Roberto Martinez, there is plenty of hope and we haven’t always had that. Following Belgium the qualifiers from Group H await and at the risk of tempting fate there are several tougher groups that we could have been paired with.
