Jude Bellingham delivered when England needed him most, scoring and assisting in a composed 2-0 win over Panama at MetLife Stadium on Sunday to send Thomas Tuchel's side to the top of Group L.
Panama had made life difficult for England throughout a frustrating first half, repeatedly threatening on the counter-attack and keeping the Three Lions at bay in the final third. With Croatia leading Ghana 1-0 and on course to claim top spot, the urgency for England was unmistakable at the interval.
Bellingham breaks the deadlock
Bellingham answered the call in the 62nd minute, reacting sharply to Bukayo Saka's corner to prod the ball home and finally break Panama's stubborn resistance. It was the kind of decisive intervention that has come to define his England career.
Five minutes later, he turned architect — delivering a precise cross that Harry Kane met with a powerful header to double the advantage. That goal was Kane's 11th at FIFA World Cup tournaments, surpassing Gary Lineker's long-standing record as England's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup.
