Success the best revenge for Jesse

JESSE LINGARD says his first World Cup goal was the best way to hit back at Panama’s hatchet men. The Manchester United player was a constant target of the Central Americans’ rough treatment. But he was proud of the way he and his teammates refused to be drawn into a war and be distracted from their game plan.

Lingard’s curling 25-yard strike, after a one-two with Raheem Sterling, was the best of England’s six goals.

His first competitive goal for his country will sit alongside his three memorable Wembley strikes in the FA Cup and League Cup finals and Community Shield. Lingard said England’s first-half goal glut negated Panama’s robust approach.

“We knew it would be a physical game and we had to adapt,” he said. “It is about not rising to the situations. I had to be cautious.

“Yellow cards are important in this competition. They made it difficult but scoring that goal kept them quiet and scoring five in the first half was great.” Lingard says he must score more for his country, having missed several chances in England’s opening win over Tunisia.

“It is a great feeling to score at the World Cup,” he said. “It means a lot.

“The occasion doesn’t matter to me as long as I perform and score. That is what Gareth has put me in the team for.

“But I definitely need to score more – you cannot stop at one.”