Thomas Tuchel is confident England will raise performance levels in the World Cup knockouts after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Panama, a result that confirmed top spot in the group and featured another record-breaking strike from Harry Kane on 27 June 2026.

The match in New York turned on a sharp spell after the hour, when Jude Bellingham scored the first goal and then set up Kane five minutes later, with England collecting seven points in the group stage, matching their best totals from 2006 and 2022 as they finished top of their section at consecutive World Cups for the first time.

Tuchel accepted that England lacked fluency for long spells, as 17 attempts produced only 1.4 expected goals, yet Tuchel stressed that the group was completed without defeat and that stronger rivals in the last sixteen could trigger a sharper display, after England became the only side to create so many chances and score twice against a physical Panama team.

“We did what was needed,” Tuchel told ITV Sport. “It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent. They are a difficult team to score against and we were the only team to create this amount of chances and score twice. The tournament starts again now in the knockouts. Now we collect our strengths and energy and build on what we have – we have the team spirit, fighting and belief. We will step up. The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get. Three days, then the next match in four days. It’s not a problem, we love that and are good at that.”

Kane’s close-range finish not only sealed the result but moved Kane clear as England’s top World Cup scorer with 11 goals, one ahead of Gary Lineker’s 10, while Bellingham, aged 22 years and 363 days, became the youngest England player since records began in 1966 to both score and assist in the same World Cup match, and only the fourth England player to achieve that overall.

Another milestone came against a familiar rival for Kane, as Kane has now scored four World Cup goals versus Panama, more than any other England player has managed against a single opponent at the tournament, underlining Kane’s value for the Three Lions during group campaigns when tight matches often hinge on clinical finishing and composure under pressure from organised defences.

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England’s attacking numbers suggested room for improvement despite the scoreline, with several promising situations breaking down before the final pass, but Tuchel pointed to strong team spirit, short recovery windows that suit this squad’s rhythm, and a belief that the “tournament starts again” once the knockout bracket begins, with England expecting tougher tactical tests in the next round.

“It is a proud one for sure. I spoke before the tournament about the World Cup being the biggest competition we play as professional footballers, so to get to 11 goals is a proud feeling,” Kane told BBC Sport. “It is always hard to take in. I just want to enjoy this moment with the team, enjoy being top of the table. I never take these moments for granted. Another good milestone to hit and I hope it is not the last one in this tournament.”

With group objectives met, England travel into the last sixteen carrying individual landmarks for Bellingham and Kane, solid defensive work against Panama, and Tuchel’s belief that higher stakes and stronger opponents will draw better football from this squad as England seek deeper progress at the World Cup.