Harry Kane on Sunday struck a hat-trick as England’s young and free-flowing team banished the ghost of past failures with a record 6-1 thrashing of feeble Panama that eased them into the round-of-16.
England’s biggest-ever World Cup win, featuring two penalties by Kane then a fortuitous deflection off his heel, also guaranteed Belgium’s berth in the next round.
“It’s amazing, I’m extremely proud... We had fun out there,” said tournament top-scorer Kane, calling his third “one of the luckiest goals of my life.”
Photo: Reuters
Ahead of their meeting on Thursday to decide who tops Group G, England and Belgium are level on points, goal-difference and goals scored.
Sunday’s game at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium eliminated the Central Americans with nine goals conceded. Tunisia were also knocked out.
Playing from the off with an ease and trickery that contrasted with the stressed-looking England of recent international tournaments, Gareth Southgate’s team romped to a remarkable 5-0 lead at halftime.
Defender John Stones headed England in front in the eighth minute from a corner, losing his marker to angle home, before captain Kane made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with a penalty after Jesse Lingard was fouled in the penalty area by Fidel Escobar.
Lingard made it 3-0 in the 36th minute with a beautiful strike from just outside the area before Stones nodded in his second and England’s fourth from a cleverly worked free-kick routine.
Kane scored another penalty just before halftime.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker bagged his third after a 61st-minute shot by Ruben Loftus-Cheek hit his foot and bounced in.
Kane, substituted to an ovation from the nearly 2,500 England fans, was the third England player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup finals following Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final and Gary Lineker against Poland in 1986.
In two games, Kane has scored all five of his shots.
“We were ruthless in front of goal,” Southgate said.
Asked if his captain could hit the heights of a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Southgate said he had started “brilliantly” and praised him for staying mentally strong as he waited to take penalties while the Panama players argued.
“We wouldn’t swap him for any other No. 9 in the tournament, such is his ability to take chances,” Southgate said.
Panama’s equal-sized army of red-shirted fans danced and cheered on the Canaleros to the end.
Substitute Felipe Baloy rewarded them with a consolation goal in the 78th minute, sliding home a free-kick that was Panama’s first goal in their debut World Cup finals, but in truth it was a humbling experience for Panama against a side known to get nervous and slip up against less illustrious rivals on the big stage.
“Panama is like a small young child in football... England is totally spectacular, a beautiful team,” said Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez, who went into the England dressing room at halftime to congratulate his counterpart Southgate.
“It could have been an even bigger score... What we did was to try to avoid a bigger catastrophe in the second half,” Gomez added.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely