England defeated Panama 2-0 in a rainy match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to finish top of Group L with seven points. The victory ensures a Round of 32 matchup against DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday. The win followed a flat first half where England dominated possession but struggled to break through Panama's defense.
Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, scoring from a Bukayo Saka corner. Five minutes later, Bellingham provided a cross for Harry Kane, who headed home to secure the victory. With his 11th World Cup goal, Kane surpassed Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Additionally, Jordan Henderson became the first England player to appear in four World Cups.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made five changes to the lineup, including starting Jarell Quansah at right back for the injured Reece James. While Tuchel acknowledged the match was a hard piece of work against a physical opponent, he stated that the team did what was needed and expressed confidence that the team would step up as the games get bigger in the knockout stages.
England faces depth issues at right back heading into the next round. Jarell Quansah suffered a classic ankle twist in the 59th minute, joining Reece James on the injury list. Tuchel expressed concern over the position, noting it would be a tight race for both players to be fit for the match on Wednesday.