England have finished top of Group L at the World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday. Goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane in the second half were enough to see off a determined Panamanian side, setting up a round-of-32 clash with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta.
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, poking home from a corner, before Kane doubled the lead five minutes later with a powerful header. Despite the win, manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that his side will need to improve if they are to progress deep into the tournament.
“It was a difficult game,” Tuchel told reporters. “I know as a coach what it takes to win these matches. There is no problem if these matches feel tight, if these matches feel tough, it will help us in the next match.”
Croatia and Ghana Advance from Group L
Croatia finished second in Group L after a 2-1 win over Ghana, with Nikola Vlasic and Petar Sučić finding the net. They will now face Portugal in Toronto. Ghana, despite finishing third in the group, also secured a place in the knockout phase and will play Colombia in Kansas City for a spot in the last 16.
England’s performance, while effective, has raised questions about their consistency. The team has shown flashes of brilliance but has also struggled to dominate games. Tuchel’s side will need to sharpen their attack and tighten their defence if they hope to challenge for the title.
Messi Shines Again for Argentina
Elsewhere, Lionel Messi continued his remarkable form, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1. The Argentine captain curled a low free kick around the wall to add to goals from Lautaro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso. Argentina have won all three of their group-stage matches and look like strong contenders.
Messi currently leads the tournament’s scoring charts, two goals ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, and Norway striker Erling Haaland. His performances have been a key factor in Argentina’s success, and he will be crucial as the knockout stage begins.
For more on the tournament’s top scorers, see our analysis of Messi, Mbappé, Haaland Dominate as World Cup Knockout Stage Takes Shape.
As the World Cup moves into its decisive phase, European teams are well represented. England, Croatia, and Portugal are among those still in contention, while Spain and the Netherlands have also impressed in earlier group matches. The tournament continues to showcase the depth of talent across the continent.
