Kane moves clear in race for Golden Boot while John Stones scores twice as Gareth Southgate's side send out warning they are force to be reckoned with by recording England's best ever result in World Cup final tournaments
HARRY KANE bagged a Panama hat-trick - and England smashed a hatful to secure a place in the World Cup knockout stages.
Gareth Southgate’s lads swept aside worries about wilting in the 32-degree heat by bagging FIVE times in a goal-crazy first half at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
John Stones netted twice from set-pieces, Kane scored twice from the penalty spot and Jesse Lingard curled in a beauty in one of the most comprehensive 45 minute displays seen for years.
Kane’s treble came after the break, before he was taken off for a breather after securing England’s BIGGEST win at a World Cup.
It is only the third time England have won their first two World Cup games - after 1982 and 2006.
And it also moved them in front of Belgium on the basis of their better disciplinary record ahead of their Group G table-topping decider later this week.
The result was never in doubt after Stones’ early opener from Kieran Trippier’s corner.
Ref Ghead Grisha could easily have given a penalty for Anibal Godoy’s wrestling hold on Kane - but it didn’t matter as Stones was unmarked and steered his header home.
Kane’s dream of winning the Golden Boot got closer when Panama’s brutal defending led to a penalty.
Lingard got rough treatment from the off, including an elbow in the face from Gab Gomez and a hack from Armando Cooper.
And the Manchester United ace won the penalty when he was bundled over by Fidel Escobar, with Kane lashing his spot-kick into the top corner.
Lingard added the third himself with a lovely curler from the edge of the area after swapping passes with Raheem Sterling.
It was England’s first goal from open play at the tournament but they were back causing havoc with set-pieces for the fourth.
Jordan Henderson came short to create an angle with a free-kick, with his cross cleverly worked to Sterling, whose header was rebounded into the top corner by Stones.
England face Belgium on Thursday to decide who will finish top of Group G and who will qualify as runners-up.
The two sides are currently level on points, goal difference and goals scored - with England top on the basis of their better disciplinary record.
In the event of a draw in Kaliningrad, that would leave both sides level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
The best disciplinary record is the next factor to decide who finishes first and second, and if they are identical then lots will be drawn.
There was still time in the first half for another Kane penalty when Godoy grappled him yet again - with the Tottenham man sending fans wild with his fourth of the World Cup.
His hat-trick was completed with a total fluke, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot clipped his heel and bounced past wrongfooted keeper Jaime Penedo.
England slowed the game down as the looked to conserve energy in the heat, knowing the hard work was done.
But Henderson just missed out on scoring a seventh as he struck a volley just across the face of goal.
Panama at least kept plugging away, and Roman Torres wasted a great chance to score a consolation on 75 minutes.
But two minutes later they did manage to scramble a goal as Felipe Baloy clipped his shot past Jordan Pickford having been left unmarked by the England defence.
