England vs Panama, LIVE World Cup 2018: Goals and latest reaction as Harry Kane scores hat-trick to seal progression to last-16
England will be desperate to build on their dramatic late victory against Tunisia and take a commanding stance in Group G when they take on Panama. Gareth Southgate’s side played some of the best football any team has produced in the tournament in the opening 30 minutes, but hit a wall when Tunisia equalised from the spot.
England’s team appeared to have been leaked after a photographer snapped the line-up written on paper held by assistant manager Steve Holland. Marcus Rashford may start over Raheem Sterling and Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces the injured Dele Alli.
Panama marked their first ever World Cup appearance with a 3-0 defeat against Belgium. The Panamanians fought hard but fell short of quality in the final third, picking up five yellow cards in the process.
Gareth Southgate on the importance of topping the group, and who may play a part against Belgium on Thursday:
"We don't know but you would rather be in control of it than not. Confidence wise it was important that we were able to score goals, big moments for Jesse Lingard today especially, and Harry Kane getting his hat-trick.
"We want to keep momentum so we will have to have a think about exactly the team we want to put out. There's opportunities for players who need a match because they haven't played for a while but also we want to keep winning football matches, but it's a nice decision to have to make."
Gareth Southgate on the performance of his England side:
"I didn't particularly like the performance really, I didn't like the start and I didn't like the goal at the end but I guess the bits in the middle were pretty good! I'm being hypercritical but I just thought we were being a little bit anxious at the start and it was a very difficult challenge with six at the back and three in midfield and they pressed well.
"But once we worked that out I thought we played some really good stuff for 35, 40 minutes and then the second half is difficult no matter what you say to the players at 5-0 at half-time.
"We talked about the importance of one more goal to be top of the group, which is why the goal at the end is disappointing. It's really rewarding to see how they are playing and how they are enjoying it and I'm sure everyone at home is enjoying it too."
We'll have reaction from Gareth Southgate in a couple of moments, but how are we all feeling after that one?
Plenty of goals, after criticism of not being clinical enough in the Tunisia game, and the likes of Harry Kane and Jesse Lingard rising to the occasion and growing into the tournament. They'll still be plenty of questions about Raheem Sterling after another below par performance, and perhaps Marcus Rashford will be given a chance against Belgium after sitting this one out.
Jesse Lingard on whether England fans can get carried away after the first two games:
"With the squad that we've got and the confidence flowing I don't see why not but at the moment let's take it game by game we are still learning. There's good vibes at the moment and a lot of positivity and we'll take it into the Belgian game."
Harry Kane post-match: "It's been brilliant, that's what the World Cup is about our fans are always great and we appreciate all the support here and back home.
"You have to believe, to achieve anything you want in life you have to believe.
"We have got to go into the (Belgium) game looking to win, and we will have to see what happens."
A brace from John Stones, a hat-trick for Harry Kane and a fine finish from Jesse Lingard secure England's passage to the last 16 with ease. In a lacklustre second half Felipe Baloy got a consolation for Panama.
89 mins: None of England's subs have exactly set the world alight since coming on. England now have a free kick, another chance for a set piece opportunity
84 mins: Panama are growing into this after their goal, England would love to see Sterling get on the scoresheet, and his effort from range was wide of the post a couple of moments ago
76 mins: Panama inches away from getting their first ever World Cup goal! It's that man again Roman Torres, but he can't connect and it's out for a goal kick
59 mins: Raheem Sterling really needs a goal. Undoubtedly at some point Marcus Rashford will enter the fray, and against this defence he'd be hard pressed to do any worse than Sterling has
England vs Panama kicks off at 13:00 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Where can I watch it?
BBC will show live coverage on BBC One and on the BBC Sport website.
Odds
England: 1/4
Panama: 15/1
Draw: 5/1
Prediction
England 3 vs 0 Panama. Surely there is only one possible result in this game. Panama eventually crumbled under Belgium’s pressure and offered very little going forward. If England can replicate the standard of play they set in the opening exchanges against Tunisia, there is no reason why they can’t put a few past their opponents.
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