England routs Panama, moves on to next stage
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA — In humidity usually so debilitating for England, the goals flowed freely.
A 6-1 rout of Panama on Sunday — led by Harry Kane's hat trick — was the national team's largestever victory margin at the World Cup.
Not since the 4-2 victory over Germany in the 1966 final has England scored as many goals at the World Cup.
The ruthlessness of the display in the sweltering heat of Nizhny Novgorod showed just how far England has been transformed in the four years since an older, more experienced squad couldn't even manage a win when it exited the World Cup in Brazil in the group stage.
In 2014, England complained about the heat in Brazil — particularly the humidity of the Amazonian jungle in the team's opening loss to Italy.
Now England is sure of a spot in the round of 16 with a game to spare in Group G. Panama, which offered little resistance, is leaving the tournament early after being eliminated along with Tunisia.
Sterner tests await, starting with the Thursday's game against Belgium. England and Belgium are level on points and goal difference and will play for first place in the group.
With five goals in two games in his World Cup debut, Kane is the leading scorer at this year's World Cup — one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.