FIFA World Cup 2018 Highlights: Kane nets a hat-trick as England rout Panama to seal last-16 spot

Nizhny Novgorod, June 24: Harry Kane did the star turn with a stunning hat-trick as England sealed the last-16 berth with their biggest-ever win in World Cup history after thrashing Panama 6-1 in a Group G encounter at Nizhny Novgorod.

John Stones netted a brace and Jesse Lingard added another while Felipe Baloy scored a consolation goal for the hapless Panama team, who are out of the tournament from the Group along with Tunisia.

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Defender Stones opened the scoring with a header in the eighth minute. Fourteen minutes later Kane converted from the spot. The penalty was awarded after Lingard was brought inside the box. It was Kane's second goal in as many matches.

Kane's penalty was the first converted by an England player at the World Cup since 2002, when David Beckham scored from the spot against Argentina.

England's time in Russia has largely gone smoothly but one or two concerns have seeped into Southgate's plans over recent days.

A leaked team sheet appeared put their campaign on the backfoot though.

Southgate, who also suffered a dislocated shoulder this week, admonished the media at their base in Repino after the photo of the team notes emerged, casting something of a shadow over what has been a positive atmosphere among players and reporters that has even resulted in a friendly darts competition.

But on the field, they seem to have put all such concerns behind as Lingard scored the third goal in 36th minute and Stones made it 4-0 soon after.

It was not over as another penalty came England's way just before half-time which Kane converted.

In the second half, just after the hour mark, Kane completed his hat-trick as he became just the third Englishman to accomplish the feat in a World Cup after Geoff Hurst (1966, final against Belgium) and Gary Linekar (1986, against Poland).

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Current World Cup top scorer on five goals after two games, Kane was then substituted, to an ovation from the nearly 2,500 England fans. He has scored all five of his shots on target.

Substitute Baloy scored a consolation goal for Panama in the 78th minute, their first in World Cup history, but the game was virtually over as a contest by that time as their World Cup debut ended in agony.

"Panama is like a small young child in football. We are like virgins ... England is totally spectacular, a beautiful team," said Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez, who went into the English changing room at half-time to congratulate Southgate.

For England fans, the pain of being knocked out in the last 16 by Iceland in the 2016 Euro Cup and a first-round exit without a win at the 2014 World Cup, was finally slipping away.

(With Agency inputs).