LOS ANGELES — Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up another to ensure England qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds as group winners yesterday with a laboured 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey.

Bellingham provided the crucial breakthrough for England with a 62nd-minute goal at a rainswept MetLife Stadium and then provided the cross for Harry Kane to double England’s advantage to seal top spot in Group L.

Until Bellingham’s intervention, England had looked to be heading for another lacklustre stalemate following their 0-0 draw with Ghana in their second group game.

But the Three Lions’ victory means they will now face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, rather than a potential meeting with Portugal in the knockout rounds.

“It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said.

“They are a difficult team to score against and we were the only team to create this amount of chances and score twice,” Tuchel added before confidently predicting England would improve during the knockout phase.

“We will step up,” the German said. “The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get.”

Croatia meanwhile made sure of claiming second place in the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.

Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, as Ghana were forced to settle for third.

Croatia’s win extinguished Scotland’s hopes of squeezing into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, confirming their elimination from the tournament.

Friday’s results had already guaranteed England, Croatia and Ghana a place in the knockout rounds, with the only issue to be settled the order of qualification.

Croatia will face the second-placed team in Group K in the last 32, which will be decided later Saturday when Portugal face Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.