FIFA World Cup 2018: England thrash Panama by 6-1

England recorded their biggest ever World Cup finals win by thrashing an illdisciplined Panama 61 on Sunday to breeze through to the knockout stage after two gamesA hattrick from captain Harry Kane which means he is now the leading scorer in the tournament with five goals two from John Stones his first ever in an England shirt and a beauty from Jesse Lingard completed the crushing victoryThe result also confirmed Belgiums qualification for the knockout stage and means Panama exit the tournament alongside TunisiaThe records tumbled for England on an easy afternoon by the River Volga The rout was the first time England have scored more than four goals at a World Cup finals since winning the tournament in 1966It was the first time in Englands history they have managed five goals in a first half and Kane became the first England player to score a World Cup hattrick since Gary Lineker in 1986It is also the first time they have qualified for the knockout stage since 2010 and the biggest victory so far at this tournamentIntriguingly it also means they are level on points goal difference and goals scored with Belgium in Group G The two sides meet in Kaliningrad on ThursdayDespite the result England started slowly and it was Panama who should have scored first in the fifth minute when Anibal Godoy blasted high and wide after the Central Americans carved open Englands defenceEngland took the lead in the eighth minute when John Stones powered home a header from a Kieran Trippier corner held up by the referee because of wrestling and pushing by the Panamanians something which was set to become a theme of the matchEngland extended their lead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lingard was brought down in the box by two defenders That opened the floodgatesLingard scored the games best goal in the 36th minute a 20yard curling shot past a helpless Jaime Penedo then Stones added his second four minutes later another header following an intricate England freekickFollowing Panama complaints the goal was referred to VAR for offside but allowed to standKane then scored his second penalty in firsthalf injury time after he was almost farcically wrestled over at a corner despite further Panama complaintsAt that stage Panama who received five bookings in their first match and three more here threatened to implode so bad was their lack of disciplineKanes hattrick was completed in bizarre fashion in the 62nd minute after a Ruben LoftusCheek deflected off the English captains heel into the netAgain the referee checked with VAR for offside but once more the goal stoodThe secondhalf was largely an anticlimax with Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling going close to making it sevenHowever the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for the 78th minute when Felipe Baloy scored Panamas first ever finals goalCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates