World Cup

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Attendance: 43,319

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 24, 2018 at 1pm UK

England
6-1
Panama Panama

Stones (8', 40'), Kane (22' pen., 45+1' pen., 62'), Lingard (36')

FT(HT: 5-0)

Baloy (78')

John Stones delighted with "special" brace in England win over Panama

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter

Published: June 24 2018 | 16:04

Last updated: June 25 2018 | 12:09

John Stones admits that he "never thought" he would score a brace for England at the World Cup as his two goals helped the Three Lions run out 6-1 winners over Panama.

John Stones has joked that he never expected to score a brace for England prior to their World Cup encounter against Panama, which saw the Three Lions run out 6-1 winners in Nizhny Novgorod.

The Manchester City defender opened the scoring for Gareth Southgate's side with an early header and also grabbed his nation's fourth goal.

Harry Kane's hat-trick and Jesse Lingard's curling effort from outside the box ensured that England would cruise into the last 16 of the tournament, and Stones is delighted to have made the country proud.

"That is something I never thought I'd do at the start of the day," Stones told BBC Sport when asked about his brace.

"It is great to get through, I remember watching four years ago and knowing how hard the lads had worked to get through. This time playing in this game it is a special moment and we wanted to do the country proud, get through to the next step and see where we can go.

"To score my first goals for England was something special, especially at a World Cup. I'd have loved to have got a clean sheet, that is something to take forward into next games and hopefully I can get a few more goals from set pieces."

England, who top Group G by virtue of fewer cards than Belgium, will take on the second-placed Red Devils in their final group match in Kaliningrad on Thursday.