Gareth Southgate has said England will not play for second place in Group G, even though it would almost certainly put them in the easier half of the draw.

England’s 6-1 win over Panama secured qualification ahead of Thursday’s game against Belgium, yet curiously it might not be in England’s best interests to win the game.

In the most likely scenario, the winners of Group G are scheduled to meet Brazil or possibly Germany in the quarter-finals, with the likes of France, Spain, Argentina or Portugal lurking thereafter. The runners-up in Group G, on the other hand, are in line to play Mexico in the quarter-finals. But Southgate other considerations would take priority for the Belgium game, which is likely to see a number of changes as England look to give some of their fringe players a game.

England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 England vs Panama World Cup player ratings England vs Panama World Cup player ratings <b>England:</b> Jordan Pickford 7 Had very little to do, and was an observer of England’s scoring antics alongside the rest of us Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Kyle Walker 7 Slightly unsure playing out from the back at times, but put in a good last-ditch tackle to deny Perez from close range Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings John Stones 8 Showed his aerial ability to get two goals, and one of the better England defenders in possession Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Harry Maguire 7 Good going forward, but could be shaky in possession against better opposition Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Kieran Trippier 7 Great movement combining with Loftus-Cheek, and a couple of great deliveries from set pieces Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Ruben Loftus-Cheek 7 Combined well with Trippier and had a confident start on his full debut. Downside that he picked up a yellow card in the first half Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Jordan Henderson 8 A leader without the armband, Henderson looked confident and assured in possession Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Ashley Young 7 Had little to do defensively but looked good going forward. Will face much tougher tests facing his own goal. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Jesse Lingard 9 England’s best player in the first half, fouled for the penalty, and scored a brilliant goal. Growing into his own talent. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Raheem Sterling 7 Average once again, unlucky not to score from the well-worked free kick routine for goal number four for England. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Harry Kane 8 Kept his calm from the penalty spot and led England from the front. Could be huge going forward against tougher opposition Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings <b>Panaman:</b> Jaime Penedo 6 Tried to put off Harry Kane for both penalties and failed. Could do little about the rest of the goals and spent most of the game picking the ball out of his net. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Michael Murillo 5 One of many to earn himself a yellow card after a poor foul on Raheem Sterling, and not at all comfortable in possession Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Roman Torres 5 The captain led with the unsporting antics from the front. Looked out of his depth as did the rest of his defence. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Fidel Escobar 5 At fault for the foul that resulted in a penalty, and looked unable to cope with Harry Kane and co Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Eric Davis 5 One of many to have a lack of discipline and a very short fuse, poor. Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Gabriel Gomez 5 An experienced figure that struggled with the pace of the game, and the English attacking talent Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Edgar Barcenas 6 One of the better players for Panama but was taken off just as the game began to open up Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Armando Cooper 5 Another to have poor discipline and earned himself a booking, lacked quality as did many others Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Anibal Godoy 6 Had an early chance which he blasted wide, but did get into decent positions and could pose a threat for Tunisia Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Jose Luis Rodriguez 6 Offered some flashes of talent going forward, but struggled with his final ball Getty England vs Panama World Cup player ratings Blas Perez 6 Had little to feed off going forward, could have had a tap in if it wasn’t for Kyle Walker’s intervention Getty

“We would want to keep momentum, and keep progressing as a team,” Southgate said. “I’ve heard talk of it being better finishing second, but how do you work all that out really? Let’s go and enjoy it again. There’s an opportunity as well for players that need a match, but also we want to keep winning. It’s a nice decision to have.

“I think that’s what we’ve got to do over the next 36 hours or so: to decide what our priority is. For me, the harmony of the group is high on that list. I have complete trust in all the players. The three players we brought on [Danny Rose, Fabian Delph and Jamie Vardy] are really critical in terms of what we do in training, and their enthusiasm around the group.

“There are others who we didn’t get into the game. Some have been a couple of weeks without a match, and we’re going to need more people as we get further into the tournament. At this moment my thoughts are with the players who haven’t played as much, but I have to consider everything before I decide upon my team.”

Ever the perfectionist, Southgate lauded the result - England's record win at a major tournament - whilst still finding fault with some aspects of the performance.

Southgate was pleased with England's display (PA)

“I really didn’t like the performance,” he said. “Well, I didn’t like the start, and I didn’t like the goal at the end, but I guess the bits in the middle were pretty good. We were a little bit anxious at the beginning.

“We played some really good stuff after 35-40 minutes. And the second half was difficult. We talked about the importance of one more goal to be top of the group, which is why the goal at the end is disappointing. But it would be harsh to criticise the players after a win like that, in that heat.”

England vs Panama: Story of the game Show all 55 1 /55 England vs Panama: Story of the game England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane celebrates with team mates after scoring England's second AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Jesse Lingard goes up for the ball in between two Panama players AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Jesse Lingard receives treatment REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game England fans EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game Gareth Southgate argues with the linesman Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Raheem Sterling, Harry Maguire and Harry Kane try to find space in the box Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game John Stones heads in England's opening goal Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game England's John Stones, right, scores his side's opening goal during the group G match between England and Panama at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, June 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Alastair Grant AP England vs Panama: Story of the game England fans take a selfie AP England vs Panama: Story of the game England's John Stones scores his side's opening goal during the group G match between England and Panama at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, June 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Antonio Calanni AP England vs Panama: Story of the game England players congratulate John Stones after he scored Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game England's players celebrate a goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group G football match between England and Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADSJOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images JOHANNES EISELE AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane is tackled to the floor by Michael Murillo AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Referee Ghead Grisha shows the yellow card to Panama's Armando Cooper EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game Jordan Pickford attempts a save AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Jesse Lingard is fouled by Fidel Escobar inside the penalty area resulting in England being awarded a penalty Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane takes England's penalty REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane scores England's second goal from the penalty spot REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane races off to celebrate his goal followed by his teammates REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Soccer Football - World Cup - Group G - England vs Panama - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 24, 2018 England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Carlos Barria CARLOS BARRIA REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Ruben Loftus-Cheek fouls Anibal Godoy and receives a yellow card EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game Jesse Lingard scores England's third goal Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Soccer Football - World Cup - Group G - England vs Panama - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 24, 2018 England's Jesse Lingard scores their third goal REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado IVAN ALVARADO REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Jesse Lingard celebrates scoring his goal with Raheem Sterling AP England vs Panama: Story of the game England players celebrate their third goal AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Ashley Young steps in between Harry Maguire and Roman Torres Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Referee Ghead Grisha talks with Panama's Michael Murillo and Roman Torres Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Kieran Trippier and Jose Luis Rodriguez EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game John Stones heads in England's fourth goal EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA - JUNE 24: John Stones of England scores his team's fourth goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between England and Panama at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) Jan Kruger Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game England players celebrate with John Stones after he scored his second goal of the match and England's fourth Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Panama's goalkeeper Jaime Penedo reacts after England's fourth goal AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Anibal Godoy fouls Harry Kane for a penalty REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane scores his second goal and England's fifth REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane celebrates his goal with teammates EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game England's fans celebrate AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Panama's coach Hernan Dario Gomez reacts AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Raheem Sterling is tackled by Jaime Penedo Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Ruben Loftus-Cheek shoots at goal before it is deflected in off Harry Kane to score England's sixth and to complete his hat-trick REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane watches the ball go into the net Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game England players congratulate Harry Kane on scoring his third and England's sixth Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane is congratulated by Gareth Southgate as he is substituted off Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Michael Amir Murillo misses a chance to score REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Felipe Baloy scores Panama's first goal Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Panama fans celebrate their sides first ever World Cup goal Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game Felipe Baloy celebrates as England players look on EPA England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Maguire complains to the referee AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Jordan Henderson and Alberto Quintero challenge for the ball AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Roman Torres reacts as Jordan Henderson shoots AFP/Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA - JUNE 24: The big screen inside the stadium displays the final score after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between England and Panama at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) Alex Morton Getty Images England vs Panama: Story of the game John Stones celebrates after the final whistle AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Panama players gather on the pitch at the end of the match AP England vs Panama: Story of the game Harry Kane clutches the match ball after scoring a hat trick Rex England vs Panama: Story of the game England fans celebrate their side's victory REUTERS England vs Panama: Story of the game Gareth Southgate celebrates England's win Getty Images