There is something about England at major tournaments that feels deeply familiar to Filipino football fans. The hope. The anxiety. The sense that things are about to go wrong. And then, just when you think the familiar script is playing out, a player does something extraordinary.
At MetLife Stadium, that player was Jude Bellingham. For 62 minutes, England were stuck in the same nightmare that haunted them against Ghana — all the ball, none of the bite. Panama, already eliminated, defended with the pride of a nation that refuses to be embarrassed. And then Bellingham decided the match was his.
The Agony Before the Ecstasy
Filipino fans who stayed up late to watch this match know the feeling. You invest your emotions in a team, and for an hour, they give you nothing but frustration. England passed sideways. Rashford shot from distance. Mosquera gathered comfortably. The first half was a masterclass in how not to break down a low block.
Panama even had their moments. A two-on-one counter in the 15th minute that should have produced more. Fajardo running the channels, making England’s centre-backs work. The half-time whistle was met with boos from the England supporters. They had seen this movie before — the 0-0 draw with Ghana was still fresh in everyone’s memory.
And to make matters worse, Croatia were beating Ghana 1-0 in the other Group L match. If those results held, England would finish second. The pressure was mounting.
The Bellingham Moment
Then, in the 62nd minute, everything changed. Saka’s corner from the left dipped into the six-yard box. It was not a perfect delivery. But Bellingham, anticipating the bounce, wrapped his leg around his marker and stabbed the ball home. It was not beautiful. It was instinctive. It was the kind of goal that wins tournaments.
Five minutes later, Bellingham turned provider. Receiving the ball on the left, he cut inside, checked back, and delivered a cross of devastating precision. Kane rose between two defenders and headed the ball into the top corner. 2-0. Game over. And with that header, Kane became England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer — 11 goals in 14 matches, surpassing Gary Lineker’s record of 10.
For Filipino fans, there is a lesson here: greatness is not about being perfect for 90 minutes. It is about delivering in the moments that matter. Bellingham was quiet for an hour. Then he produced a goal and an assist in five minutes. That is what separates the elite from the merely good.
Panama’s Proud Exit
Panama leave the World Cup with zero points from three matches. But that statistic does not tell the full story. They lost 1-0 to Ghana, 1-0 to Croatia, and 2-0 to England. They were never humiliated. They competed. They defended. In stoppage time, Fajardo scored a brilliant goal that was ruled out for offside — a moment that summed up their tournament: close, but not close enough.
Thomas Christiansen’s side showed that CONCACAF teams can compete at this level. They just lacked the final piece — the goal that would have made all the difference.
Group L Final Standings
England: 7 points (2W 1D 0L) — Group winners
Croatia: 6 points (2W 0D 1L) — Runners-up
Ghana: 4 points (1W 1D 1L) — Third place (advances)
Panama: 0 points — Eliminated
What’s Next
England face DR Congo in the round of 32. The Leopards are physical, unpredictable, and exactly the kind of opponent that has historically troubled England. But if Bellingham plays like this, it may not matter.
Tuchel said it best after the match: “The bigger the games get, the bigger we’ll be.” For England, the big games start now.
