NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — It was Saturday afternoon on the Volga River when Panama manager Hernan Dario Gomez offered a scary thought — the next day’s match against England might prove even more lopsided than his team’s 3-0 loss to Belgium in its first game.
A day later, Panama made its manager look like a seer. Behind three goals from captain Harry Kane, England obliterated Panama 6-1 on a steamy afternoon here, qualifying for the knockout round with a win that may have said more about how poor an opponent the Three Lions faced rather than how formidable they might actually be as this tournament rolls on.