Set-piece supremacy bodes well for England's World Cup dreams after 6-1 win over Panama

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  • England ran riot against an ordinary Panama side and dished out a 6-1 thumping in their second Group G match at the World Cup.

    John Stones gave his side an early lead in the eighth minute from a corner. Harry Kane finished emphatically from the spot to double the lead in the 22nd minute before Jesse Lingard scored with a sublime strike from distance.

    Stones made it 4-0 from another set-piece five minutes before the break and another, almost identical, Kane penalty on the stroke of half-time saw England take a 5-0 advantage into the interval.

    The skipper then completed his hat-trick when a Ruben Loftus-Cheek strike deflected off his heel and nestled into the back of the net in the 62nd minute.

    Panama pulled one goal back from a set-piece with Felipe Baloy getting on the score sheet.

    SET-PIECE SPECIALISTS

    In just two matches, England have scored eight goals but only two have come from open play. When Stones broke the deadlock against Panama, it was their third goal from corners – as many as they’ve managed in their previous 34 World Cup games. Much of that is down to Kieran Trippier’s excellent delivery.

    The Tottenham wing-back registered six key passes against Tunisia with seven of his 10 crosses finding a team-mate. His corner broke Panama’s brief resistance this time around.

    However, Stones’ second goal is where England’s strength from set-pieces really came to the fore. Trippier stood over the dead ball as well and a well-worked move, straight from the training ground, saw him lay the ball off to Jordan Henderson who in turn hung up a ball to the far post. Harry Maguire rose highest and headed it back across goal where Stones scored off the rebound after the keeper had denied Raheem Sterling.

    England have physically imposing side that can dominate in the air. The likes of Kane, Maguire, Stones and Kyle Walker are threats from set-pieces and Southgate has set about honing that aerial supremacy. It could prove crucial when chances are hard to come by against tougher opposition.

    FAR FROM PERFECT

    Given the lack of belief and general pessimism that surrounded England’s World Cup campaign ahead of the tournament, there’s nothing like a 6-1 win to breed confidence going forward. The players will be flying high after that result but while Southgate will be delighted with the mood in the camp, he’ll be wary of the danger of getting carried away as well.

    Take nothing away from England’s ruthlessness in front of goal – something they were sorely lacking in the first game – but at the end of the day, they were facing one of the worst teams in Russia. Having failed to get anything out of their clash with Belgium, Panama had to at least attempt to play some football this time around and were naturally left more open.

    England did well to capitalise on their opponents’ vulnerability but they had their fair share of concerns at the back as well which is a worry. Panama had two or three very promising moves during the early proceedings but could only fluff their lines. Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford did have one big save to make to deny Michael Murillo in the second half. Roman Torres then missed a sitter at the back post from a corner kick before Baloy scored from another set-piece.

    Better opposition may have made the Three Lions pay on a couple more occasions. England deserve to enjoy this result but there’s still plenty of fine tuning that needs to be done on the training ground.

    Panama denied England a clean sheet.

    Panama denied England a clean sheet.

    PRINCE HARRY

    If England were to impress at this World Cup, they needed to have Kane firing on all cylinders. Fortunately, the Tottenham star wouldn’t have it any other way. He followed up his match-winning brace against Tunisia with a hat-trick at the Nizhny Novogorod Stadium.

    While two of them were from the spot and he knew very little about the third that ricocheted off his heel, his efforts from 12 yards were emphatic. His five goals so far makes him the leading goal scorer in the tournament, over-taking Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.

    All five of Kane’s shots on target at the tournament have found the back of the net and he trails only Gary Lineker (6) for most goals by an Englishman at a single World Cup. With Kane at his clinical best, England always have a chance.

    Main man: Harry Kane

    Main man: Harry Kane

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