New Jersey, June 29 : Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up another to ensure England qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds as group winners on Saturday with a laboured 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey.
Bellingham provided the crucial breakthrough for England with a 62nd-minute goal at a rainswept MetLife Stadium and then provided the cross for Harry Kane to double England’s advantage minutes later and seal top spot in Group L.
Until Bellingham’s intervention, England had looked to be heading for another lacklustre stalemate following their 0-0 draw with Ghana in their second group game.
But the Three Lions’ victory means they will now face Congo in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Croatia meanwhile made sure of claiming second place in the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, as Ghana were forced to settle for third.
Kane’s third goal of the tournament, after his brace in the opening 4-2 win over Croatia, means the England captain has now moved clear of Gary Lineker as his country’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11.
Panama lost all three group games at their debut World Cup in 2018, and go out after losing all three matches this time — all without scoring, with this result following 1-0 reverses against Ghana and Croatia.
Croatia battle past Ghana
Luka Modric lined up for a corner kick intent on trying to float the ball to the top of the 6-yard box. Nikola Vlašic jumped high among the scrum and headed it in for a goal — good enough to advance Croatia in the World Cup and give Modric a slice of tournament history.
The 40-year-old Modric became the oldest player in World Cup history with an assist, and Vlašic and Petar Sucicscored to help Croatia earn a spot in the knockout round.
“I told him after the game, you play like you’re 20 years old,” Sucic said. “He was incredible today. He runs a lot. He goes into every duel. He was incredible with the ball. He is our leader; he is our best player and we’re so happy he can lead us in this World Cup. He can play until he wants, he’s so good.”
Vlašic headed home Modric’s corner in the 83rd minute to score the winner and put Croatia back in contention after it finished third in 2022.
Modric at 40 years, 291 days set the assist record back to records kept since 1966. He played in his 200th international game in this World Cup and remained the best player for the Vatreni in this tournament.
Sucic scored in the 31st minute for Croatia on an absolute rocket from outside the box for his second career international goal.
Derrick Luckassen scored the equalizer that —- after a brief review — sent thousands of fans wearing yellow into a frenzy. Luckassen found the bottom right corner in the 73rd minute to make it 1-1 and the first of the five group stage games in Philadelphia where both teams scored.(AFP)
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