News / Sports / World Cup 2018

England thrashes Panama 6-1, marches into FIFA World Cup last 16

Sunday, 24 June 2018 3:14 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 24 June 2018 3:17 PM ]

England's John Stones celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G match between England and Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 24, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

The England men’s national football team, nicknamed the Three Lions, has marched into the knockout stage of the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Russia, after it recorded an emphatic win over tournament debutants Panama.

On Sunday, the Three Lions trounced the shell-shocked Central Americans 6-1 in a Group G match played at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod.

England’s 24-year-old defender Jon Stones put his side in front in the eighth minute from a corner, losing his marker to angle home a header.

Captain Harry Kane converted a penalty nearly a quarter later, after midfielder Jesse Lingard was pushed over in the box by Panama defender Fidel Escobar.

Lingard made it 3-0 in the 36th minute with a beautiful strike from just outside the area.

England's Jesse Lingard scores his team’s third goal during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G match between England and Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 24, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Later on, Stones nodded in his second and England's fourth after a cleverly worked free-kick. Kane scored another penalty just before halftime.

Kane struck a hat-trick in the 61st minute after Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot hit his foot, and bounced over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.

Panama pulled a goal back in the 78th minute through Felipe Baloy, who slid home a free kick that was the first goal of Los Canaleros (The Canal Men) in the World Cup.

During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, the host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay were put in Group A in the preliminary round of the tournament.

The Iran men's national football team, nicknamed Team Melli, has joined Portugal’s A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco.

France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.

England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G match between England and Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 24, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.

Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.

While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.

Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia opened the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. The hosts won the match 5-0.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.

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