England sealed first place in Group L with a workmanlike 2-0 defeat of Panama at a rainy MetLife Stadium, a result that owed everything to a six-minute surge of inspiration from Jude Bellingham after an hour of frustration. The Real Madrid midfielder forced home a Bukayo Saka corner in the 62nd minute to shatter Panama’s defensive discipline, then floated a cross for Harry Kane to head in the second and write his own line in the record books. The victory, combined with Croatia’s 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia, left England on seven points, one ahead of the Croatians, and sent Thomas Tuchel’s side into the knockout rounds on a more favourable path.

For the opening hour, however, that outcome felt distant. Thomas Christiansen’s Panama, already eliminated, set up in a deep 5-4-1 block that England had no convincing tools to unlock. Marcus Rashford, handed a first start of the tournament alongside Saka, drew an early save from Orlando Mosquera and curled a stoppage-time free-kick narrowly wide, but clear chances were scarce. Jordan Pickford had to be alert at the other end to deny José Luis Rodríguez. Across the Hudson River, Petar Sučić’s 31st-minute strike for Croatia temporarily lifted them above England in the live standings, sharpening the sense of anxiety among Tuchel’s men.

The deadlock was broken by persistence at a set-piece. Saka’s inswinging delivery landed in a crowded six-yard box; Bellingham, despite being held by Jorge Gutiérrez, managed to prod the ball past Mosquera with his left foot. Five minutes later he turned provider, drifting to the left and clipping a measured cross that Kane headed down and into the net, leaving the goalkeeper stranded. The goal was Kane’s 11th at World Cups, moving him beyond Gary Lineker as England’s outright tournament record-holder, and his third of the campaign.

Tactically, the shift had been coming. Tuchel made five changes from the drab goalless draw with Ghana, resting Declan Rice and giving first World Cup starts to Morgan Rogers and Jarell Quansah, the latter drafted in after Reece James’s injury. The second-half introduction of more direct running – and Panama’s gradual loss of shape – finally carved the openings the manager had demanded. A late effort from José Fajardo was ruled out for offside, ensuring Panama departed without a goal or a point from its second World Cup appearance.

The win carries tangible reward. As group winners, England avoid a potential last-16 collision with Spain and will travel to Atlanta on 1 July to face a third-placed qualifier, almost certainly Senegal or DR Congo. Croatia leapfrogged Ghana to take second place on six points, while the Black Stars’ four points were enough to progress as one of the eight best third-placed sides. For England, a controlled if unspectacular group stage now gives way to a single-elimination phase where the margin for error evaporates – and where Tuchel insists his team will “step up” as the stakes rise.