England get giddy in Panama goalfest
ENGLAND expected a win but not one so brilliantly-conceived and ruthlessly executed as this.
It was almost too easy, and I believe that England fans should enjoy every goal, every minute.
England’s players deserve the accolades that will come their way, as they should, for producing a performance unmatched in all their previous campaigns in the World Cup.
It knocked me out, enthralled me, excited me and made me think of the brightest of futures.
Yes, it confirmed my belief that Gareth Southgate and this group of players will progress in what has become the most stunning of finals in Russia, starting with the Group G decider against Belgium on Thursday night.
An England fan will live for games like this more in hope, I have to say, than expectation and despite Panama’s glaring deficiencies what so impressed me was the team’s calm, cool professionalism.
Of course, the gulf in quality between the players was considerable but England haven’t always exploited that in previous World Cups.
They could have been riled, they could have lost the plot but instead they shrugged their collective shoulders and taught Panama what the big game is all about.
The message will have been received loud and clear — England can do it. Back the team to go far and believe them when they say they will give everything.
There is no case for nitpicking. There were no failures.
After the Tunisia game I suggested Gareth would have to consider Raheem Sterling’s selection. Well, the little fellow still could not find a goal on the day they scored freely, but he worked his socks off.
Jesse Lingard was another culprit in front of the Tunisian goal but against Panama he produced a world-class strike for which he will be remembered — with some help from Sterling.
Kyle Walker looked less than comfortable in the first game but redeemed himself with one superb clearance.
What an asset Gareth has in Harry Kane: manager and captain are the perfect partnership. Harry can return home as a world star carrying the Golden Boot, too, if his form continues allied to the occasional ‘lucky heel’ break.
There were those who questioned John Stones’s suitability. I was not one of his critics. I liked his approach and his ability to sweep forward. His two goals ended all the arguments.
There should be a mention of the part played by the Egyptian referee Gehad Grisha. He sorted out the ridiculous manhandling that’s been seen against many teams inside the 18-yard box, punishing the offenders by awarding penalties.
WHAT A WORLD CUP THIS IS!
THE World Cup has so far been a delight, surely we can all agree on that. There are always the negative thinkers, the pundits off and on television unhappy, say, with big Icelandic hammer-throwers, or a return to Wimbledon and the Crazy Gang, or maybe the way Tunisia were putting it about.
But then there is the contrast: the magic produced by Cristiano Ronaldo and the almost equally brilliant free-kick from Toni Kroos to give Germany their lifesaving win over Sweden. The Germans knew England were ready to dance on their grave and were having none of it. These were incredibly dramatic moments — the beautiful game at its most majestic. Football fans have seen immaculate football and tackling that is full-blooded enough to make you cringe at its power and, sometimes, its recklessness.
But that is what makes it special. It is the mix of styles, the difference in attitudes and the way what is not normal for you as a team and as a player has to be challenged, confronted and beaten in order to survive.
I have been impressed with so much of what I have watched that I have become something of a slave to the television monitor.
There has been the agony of Lionel Messi, which made such uncomfortable viewing. But as he struggles with Argentina’s unexpected spiral into decline the uplift comes from watching the little Croat, Luka Modric, sparkling in front of the world with performances that say he is up there with the very best.
He is such a tiny figure, so slight but so talented, he makes what he has go a long way. We watched and admired his talent in his days at Tottenham and again with Real Madrid.
But it is what he is doing for Croatia that makes him a heroic figure, a status confirmed by that superb long-range goal in his country’s 3-0 win over Argentina.
It is the mix that makes it so wonderful. To see the ecstatic celebrations of the Panama fans when their captain Felipe Baloy scored one against six sums it up for me — just to be part of the greatest sporting event of them all is what matters.
Players will have already learned by phone call, text and social media just how much the English fans appreciate their efforts.
The players realise it gets tougher from now on but they have convinced critics how much it means to them and how hard and long they will work for their country. Terry Venables was speaking to Alex Montgomery