Southgate meets England's toughest week in record style



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First, the numbers.

It was the first time England had scored more than four goals in a World Cup match, the last being the victorious final of 1966. It was also the fifth time in the world. history that only one team hit five in the first half of a match. the biggest football tournament. Harry Kane then became the first captain of England to score a hat-trick since Alan Shearer against Luxembourg in 1999, and only the third player of the Three Lions to do so at a World Cup.

The 6-1 victory over Panama was, in unequivocal terms, a total pounding. Given the tense days that preceded him, Gareth Southgate should be rewarded with the bucket charge.

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This has undoubtedly been the most difficult week in the job for the inexperienced boss of England. The hard work that we have spent to cultivate a positive atmosphere among the fans and the media has created a calm and calm optimism around the base camp of Repino. There have even been dart competitions between players and journalists.

Then came the "escape". Photographs of a piece of paper, apparently indicating that the Southgate team was facing Panama, were published by some outlets. This led to an initial reprimand from the manager and Kyle Walker, which provoked a reaction from social media and journalists arguing among themselves, the duty to report conflicting news with the desire to stay on the safe side of the business. # 39; team.

It was a test that Southgate did brilliantly. "I do not expect the media to support us in terms of functioning," he told reporters Saturday in Nizhny Novgorod. "I know that they want us to do well, this has been clear throughout the tournament.

"There is no drama for me, the picture of the other day was not even the team."

He spoke with ease and a lot of disapproving humor. He defused the tension with a handful of well-chosen words. Suddenly, the focus was on the upcoming football match, and it was the best he 's seen in his work.

Panama was, of course, shocking. Their fans were outnumbered by traveling fans from England, driven by a largely decisive performance in the 3-0 defeat against Belgium, but it was a disaster. The opening of John Stones in eight minutes gave the impression of losing all confidence in the defense. They resorted to inexpensive mistakes, struggling with coins and a mismanaged press game. The eagle-eyed officials played their part, and a ruthless England did the rest.

Kane was given two almost identical penalties and Stones made another head. The reliance on goals for goals was shattered when Jesse Lingard combined with Raheem Sterling and folded a stunning shot into the top corner, keeping his penchant for scoring only the most spectacular goals. Kane got his hat trick by blocking Ruben Loftus-Cheek's shot into the net with his heel. & # 39; Football & # 39; s Coming Home & # 39; s came out of the speakers for the sixth time.

It was easy for England; far, much easier than it will be against Belgium on the third day. They conceded an inexpensive goal here too, a slice of the history of the World Cup for Panama. But they should not be criticized for facing a weaker side and wasting them imperiously, taking on a style that the manager has worked hard to impose.

It is unlikely that England wins this World Cup. But if Southgate wanted the conversation to focus on team football, it is now.

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