Bellingham fires England past Panama as Beckham cameo ignites New Jersey crowd

Jude Bellingham struck to give England a hard-fought victory over already-eliminated Panama at New York/New Jersey Stadium, with Thomas Tuchel’s side advancing from Group L as winners after a performance that rarely matched the occasion.

England arrived at the fixture needing a response after a 0-0 draw with Ghana had followed their 4-2 opening win over Croatia. What they delivered was a laboured display that left supporters — many of whom had queued for hours in heavy rain and unseasonably cool temperatures — searching for reasons to cheer.

The most vivid moment of the first half had nothing to do with the football. When former England captain David Beckham appeared on the stadium’s Jumbotron screens, the crowd erupted with the kind of noise that had been conspicuously absent from the action on the pitch. The roar was, by some distance, the loudest of the evening to that point.

Panama, already out of the tournament, fashioned the better chances in a goalless first half, and a tepid second period threatened to leave England finishing second in the group. The mood inside the stadium was one of mounting anxiety.

The Beckham moment appeared to shift something. Harry Kane produced England’s best opportunity shortly after the icon’s appearance on screen, and when Bellingham finally broke the deadlock, a wave of relief swept around the stadium.

The victory was not without concern, however. Defender Jarel Quansah was forced off with an injury scare, adding to an already stretched situation at right-back with both Tino Livramento and Reece James sidelined. England will now turn their attention to a Round of 32 tie.