England secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey, but manager Thomas Tuchel faces lingering questions as the tournament enters the knockout rounds. Jude Bellingham was the standout performer, scoring the opener and creating Harry Kane's decisive second-half effort to power his side through.

Bellingham the difference-maker

Tuchel rotated his squad, handing starts to Jarell Quansah, Nico O'Reilly, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Bukayo Saka — yet it was his senior pair, Bellingham and Kane, who settled the contest. Bellingham was rated the best player on the pitch, earning a 9 from Sky Sports' analysis, while Kane — despite a limited 25 touches throughout — converted an inch-perfect cross in the second half to register his 11th World Cup goal, surpassing Gary Lineker's England record.

Quansah and Rogers disappoint

The evening produced clear concerns. Quansah, deputising at right-back for the injured Reece James, struggled throughout — conceding a throw-in to the referee inside six minutes, being caught out of position, and eventually limping off after rolling his ankle in the 60th minute. Djed Spence replaced him and showed slightly more composure going forward.

Rogers, fielded in the No 10 role, was another who failed to grasp his opportunity. The midfielder found little space in the first half and made only fleeting contributions in the second, with Sky Sports awarding him a 5. Rashford, on the other hand, was lively and direct throughout, wasting two good chances but providing enough energy to force Tuchel into a selection dilemma ahead of the knockout stages.

Defensive questions remain

Jordan Pickford kept a second consecutive clean sheet, recording his best performance of the group stage despite a passing accuracy of 76 percent. Nico O'Reilly was England's most reliable defender, locking down the left flank and offering attacking runs — a significant improvement on his difficult outing against Croatia. Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi both had nervy first halves before settling after the break, with Guehi fortunate that a late Panama goal was ruled out for offside.

Saka showed flashes of class — including the corner that led to Bellingham's opener — but faded as the match progressed. Jordan Henderson came on late as a substitute to make history, becoming the first player to appear for England at seven major tournaments.

With the knockout bracket now set, Tuchel must resolve his right-back problem and decide which attacking options can complement Bellingham and Kane on the biggest stage.