England are into the World Cup knockout stages after their 6-1 win over Panama in Group G. After years of disappointment at major tournaments, they are providing hope that this time it could be different…
England will face far tougher tests than Panama at this World Cup. The true challenges are still to come for Gareth Southgate and his players. But with this six-goal demolition of a supposedly stubborn opponent, they might have a hard time keeping a lid on the optimism.
It is a day that will go down in the record books regardless of what happens next. England had never scored more than four times in a World Cup game, let alone six. Harry Kane, up to five for the tournament already, will need no reminding that he is only the third England player to score a hat-trick in the competition after Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker.
There are positives all over the pitch for Southgate and Kane’s start to the tournament is foremost among them. The 24-year-old seemed burdened by expectation at Euro 2016, failing to find the net once in four appearances, but he has embraced the captaincy whole-heartedly under the new regime, scoring 11 goals in seven games since he was handed the armband.
Kane knew little about his hat-trick goal, in truth, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot looping in off his heel, but six days after his match-winning heroics against Tunisia, he dispatched his penalties without a flicker of doubt. Kane was mocked for mentioning the Golden Boot race after Cristiano Ronaldo’s treble against Spain, but he is winning it now.
He was not the only one who played without inhibition. There is swagger and confidence running through Southgate’s youthful side and it was typified by Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling and Loftus-Cheek against Panama. Southgate has urged his players to express themselves and it shows. Their pace, movement and imagination was a joy to watch at times.
Lingard, in particular, was outstanding. The Manchester United forward earned criticism for his missed chances against Tunisia, but his goal against Panama, curled into the top corner after a neat one-two with Sterling on the edge of the box, was the pick of the lot.
Lingard rewarded his manager’s faith and the same can be said of Sterling, whose critics were out in force after his ineffective display in England’s opener. Steve Holland’s notebook suggested he might be dropped, but Southgate knows his value to the side. By ignoring the noise and keeping him there, he boosted his confidence exactly when he needed it.
2:16 Sue Smith and Darren Bent praised England's performance
The early signs from Russia suggest Southgate is a fine coach as well as a bold decision-maker. England looked like scoring from practically every set-piece against Tunisia and the theme continued against Panama, with four of their goals coming from dead-ball situations. The brilliantly-worked fourth, finished off by John Stones, was a clear consequence of meticulous training-ground planning.
Southgate has maximised England’s set-piece threat by making full use of Kieran Trippier’s excellent delivery. The Tottenham man had only won a handful of caps before the tournament and seemed an unlikely starter as recently as a few months ago, but Southgate has found room for him by dropping Kyle Walker into the back three.
He brings more than dead-ball delivery, too. Trippier showed tireless energy in difficult conditions at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium and his open-play passing was just as impressive as his set-pieces. Indeed, it was his ball over the top which released Lingard for Kane’s first penalty in the 20th minute. He repeated the trick to send Sterling clear shortly afterwards.
Southgate was frustrated by Panama’s consolation goal and there were occasional lapses at the back which a stronger team might have punished, but England’s performance was notable for its intelligence as well as its attacking intent.
With five goals in a blistering first period, they got the job done before half-time knowing the heat would sap their energy after the break. They moved the ball quickly and incisively in opposition territory, but on other occasions Harry Maguire, Stones and Walker were encouraged to slow the play down, passing it from side to side and allowing their team-mates to rest.
It should serve them well for the challenges ahead. England face a dilemma in their final group game against Belgium knowing a second-placed finish is likely to lead to a kinder draw in the knockout stages, but whatever the task, they can approach it with optimism. Southgate and his side are already proving to be a breath of fresh air.
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