The scoreline might flatter England but one can say they deserved those goals. But one complaint Panama fans can have is that their side failed to reduce the deficit when they had their chances.
The Central American side were deployed in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Gabriel Gomez sitting in between the two lines and Blas Perez leading the attack. But their main creator was Barcenas who drifted in from the right flank time and again while right-back Michael Murillo overlapped on the outside.
Their movements caused England problems since they were playing a back-three in a 3-5-2 formation. Lateral passes to Armando Cooper and Anibal Godoy helped them enter the final third and there were nervy moments in England’s defence when a couple of shots went narrowly wide.
But Panama’s inability to make those chances count is what eventually made the difference between a close game and a blowout win. A consolation goal from 37-year-old Felipe Baloy – Panama’s first ever at a World Cup – did little to make a difference and only ensured England would not keep a clean sheet.