England wrapped up top spot in Group L with the minimum fuss required, and the headline act was the man who needs no introduction. Harry Kane headed home in the 67th minute, set up by a Jude Bellingham delivery, to make it his 11th World Cup goal — passing Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament, a record that had stood for nearly four decades.
It was Jude Bellingham himself who broke the deadlock five minutes earlier, converting from a Bukayo Saka corner to settle a tighter-than-expected contest against a well-organized Panama side that had nothing left to play for but pride. Thomas Tuchel had been linked with heavy rotation throughout the buildup, but in the end Bellingham started, scored, and set up both of England's goals — with Saka's corner the assist on the first.
Panama, already eliminated, competed with the kind of structure and discipline that had made them the surprise package of Group L's early matchdays, but couldn't find a way through a vastly more talented England side once the goals arrived. Thatcher Christiansen's side exit the tournament with their head held high after a campaign that exceeded expectations.
England finish the group stage unbeaten and top of Group L on 7 points, setting up a round of 32 clash with DR Congo. Kane's record-breaking goal — and Bellingham's hand in both — was the story of the night.
Eleven World Cup goals and counting — a record that took Lineker's generation decades to set now belongs solely to Kane, with knockout football still ahead of him.
Bellingham started, played, and had a direct hand in both goals — scoring the first off a Saka corner, then teeing up Kane for the second. Tuchel's main men showed up when it mattered, regardless of what dead-rubber logic suggested.
A disciplined, competitive showing in a game with nothing on the line says plenty about the foundations this squad has built heading into future cycles.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏴 England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
England win Group L unbeaten on 7 points and face DR Congo in the round of 32. Croatia confirm second on 6 points. Ghana's third-place finish keeps their best-third-placed hopes alive pending the final round of group deciders. Panama finish bottom and are eliminated without a point.