England’s World Cup heroes are all set for Sunday’s showdown with Panama, praying “King” Harry can fire them into the knock-out stages.

Around 21 million viewers – more than a third of the UK’s population – watched star striker Harry Kane score both goals in a 2-1 victory over Tunisia.

He was hailed a “King” by fiancee Katie Goodland, as manager Gareth Southgate insisted his team would be ready for Panama, who are competing in their first-ever World Cup and lost 3-0 to Belgium in their debut match.

Can "King" Harry Kane bring us another juicy victory? (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Kane, 24, thanked the millions of fans for their support back home as his team told how he “led from the front”.

On the FA official channel, Kane said: “It’s what dreams are made of. It was such a good feeling. I’m so proud of the team. We fought to the end. It was a massive result to start the tournament.

“To score a winner in a World Cup is just incredible. The celebrations – and watching the celebrations back home and in the stadium – incredible.

"I have been part of that before when I was a kid watching football – to see it and be part of it was amazing.”

A passionate Japanese fan sported some excellent headgear (
Image:
AFP)

The BBC said more than 18 million people watched the final stages of the game on TV with a record three million requests to stream the match on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

BBC presenter Gary Lineker said: “Astonishing for an opening group game. The power of football and the World Cup. Bloody Nora.”

In an online post, Kane’s fiancee Katie, 25, added a king banner to a photo of her husband’s TV interview on the final whistle, adding the hashtag, “YesBoys”.

A Polish fan was very optimistic about the score on her top (
Image:
Getty)

Kane tweeted a message of thanks to fans, saying: “A very proud moment to lead out my country at the #WorldCup last night. Seen some celebration videos from back home – love them. Your support is great we need you right behind us all the way.”

And England fans are already ramping up the “Panamania” for Sunday’s match.

An estimated 5,000 England supporters are expected to be in the stadium at Nizhny Novgorod, along with 4,000 fans from Panama – a central American nation with a population of just four million.

If England do triumph they could face Japan in the knock-out stages after their shock 2-1 victory over Colombia yesterday and Senegal’s 2-1 win against Poland.

Two England fans celebrate a Kane goal with a smackeroonie (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Most of the 2,500 England fans in Volgograd on Monday flew home as they were on special 24-hour trips. At Volgograd Airport, Richard Clayton, 57, from Basingstoke, Hants, said: “What a great start.” Terry Osborne, 38, of Norwich, said: “The momentum is with us. Beat Panama and we’re through. That would be incredible.”

England are now 10/1 to win the World Cup, slashed from 14/1 before kick-off on Monday. Kane is 5/1, from 16/1 before the Tunisia game, to finish as top scorer.

Kane's daughter Ivy Jane has been supporting from home

One person who missed the goals he scored for team and country was PM Theresa May, who was in talks with Tory Brexit rebels.

Her spokesman said the PM’s message to the team was “we hope that they can go on to qualify”.

You are not alone, Mrs May.

Panama: All you need to know

  • The tiny Central American country is famed for its canal and the national team is called Los Canaleros (The Canal Men).
  • The canal links the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean Sea and spares ships travelling around South America.
  • At its narrowest, 80km separates the Atlantic and Pacific. It’s the one place you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic from the same spot.
  • Panama City is the only capital in the world with a rain forest in its city limits.
  • Panama was the very first Latin American country to adopt the U.S. dollar as its official currency.
  • It celebrates two independence days, the first from Spain in 1821 and the second from Colombia 82 years later in 1903.
  • The country was the hide-out of Brit John Darwin, who faked his canoe death but was rumbled in December 2007.
  • Panama’s most experienced footballer, Amilcar “Mickey” Henriquez, was assassinated on his doorstep last year.
  • At the country’s narrowest point, only 80 kilometers separates the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean and it is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic…from the same spot.
  • Panama City, the nation’s capital, is the only capital city in the world that has a rain forest within its city limits, with 1.5m people living there.