The Three Lions of England have confirmed their place in the knockout stage at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia after they thrashed first timers Panama 6-1 in a Group G clash at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod.

Tottenham Hotspur striker was the star man once again for Gareth Southgate’s team as he netted a treble to move above Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku in the race for the Golden Boot.

John Stones edged England ahead on eighth minutes via a powerful header before Kane doubled the lead from the spot fourteen minutes later after Jesse Lingard was fouled in the box.

Manchester United forward Lingard curled in a third goal on 36 minutes and Stones added another goal via a close range finish with five first half minutes remaining before the 1966 World Cup winners went 5-0 up at halftime with another Kane penalty after he had been manhandled in the box.

Harry Kane completed his hat-trick in the second half off a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot to become only the third England player to score a treble at the World Cup after Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker.

England have also scored six goals at the World Cup for the first time.

Their opponents pulled one back on 78 minutes through 37-year-old Felipe Baloy who become the first Panama player to score at the World Cup.

The goal was widely cheered by the Panama fans but the reality is that the CONCACAF representatives exit the tournament after two defeats in two games while England join Belgium at the top of Group G and as the two qualified teams for the knockout stage from the group.

England face Belgium in their final group game, while Panama play Tunisia for pride and for the chance to record their first ever point in the other group game.