Hat trick hero Harry Kane (9) celebrating with defender John Stones (5) who scored two against Panama. Photo / Getty Images
Hat trick hero Harry Kane (9) celebrating with defender John Stones (5) who scored two against Panama. Photo / Getty Images
A euphoric mood has swept England as fans begin to believe that their underachieving team can win the World Cup, after they smashed little Panama.
The 6 - 1 victory in Russia overnight puts England into the last 16 with a game against powerful Belgium to spare. Captain Harry Kane's hat trick means he leads the Golden Boot race.
Jubilant England fans. Photo / Getty Images
Even Panama's coach Hernan Dario Gomez added to the excitement, by congratulating his England counterpart Gareth Southgate at halftime with the score already at 5 - 0.
Kane summed up and encouraged the mood saying: "You have to believe. To achieve anything in life you have to believe.
"There's a long way to go and a lot of hard work but we've got to stick together and keep to our game plan."
Sports Illustrated's "England Fans go Into Meltdown" headline typified the coverage of how England supporters, starved of success, were reacting after wins over Tunisia and Panama via an eight goal spree.
"England fans simply couldn't believe what they were watching from their traditionally insipid side," SI reckoned.
The BBC thought it was "Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."
"It's safe to say most England fans have not experienced elation like this in a long time," it reported, adding many recent efforts were "pitiful".
The Sun newspaper seemed to find street parties and jubilant fans throughout England, accompanied by loads of photos of crowd scenes.
While some like the great English goalkeeper Peter Shilton suggested world number 55 Panama were not the most reliable gauge, England's free spirited win gave their fans a similar lease of life.
The actions of Panama's coach did nothing to put a lid on the celebrations.
"I went to congratulate him (Southgate) at half-time," said the eccentric Gomez, who had previously joked he would drink two bottles of vodka if his team progressed to the knockout stage.
"I told him I really like his team. England are totally spectacular, a beautiful team."
The Sun headline screamed: "Street parties break out as England fans celebrate record 6 - 1 World Cup win.", Erupted across the country
There were report's of England fans singing "it's coming home", although to take this too literally would be to ignore the famous English humour.
England are famous for big tournament meltdowns, and being unable to live up to their reputation as the home of football. They have not won a big trophy since the World Cup final victory over West Germany at Wembley in 1966.
Their highest goal tally in a game, the previous best being four against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley.
Excited fans in Croydon Box Park went berserk as they watched England romp to victory on giant screens.
In Newcastle, supporters roared with delight after the Three Lion's record-breaking win.
And in the Isle of Wight, festival-goers celebrated in clouds of smoke after the team's victory, while in Birmingham, pubs were packed out with ecstatic boozers.
Another great result for @England scoring a brilliant six goals against a very average team! The tournament will start when we play in the last sixteen but a terrific game to come against Belgium first!
