Six Goals for England and an Open Door Into the Next Round

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — It was Saturday afternoon on the Volga River when Panama’s coach, Hernan Dario Gomez, offered a scary thought — the next day’s World Cup 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.