REPINO, Russia: Sunday's qualification for the last 16 with a game to spare, Harry Kane leading the race for the Golden Boot and a record World Cup win after thrashing Panama 6-1 -- England could not have wished for a better start in Russia.
Even accounting for soft opposition in the World Cup debutantes and Tunisia before that, England's record so far contrasts starkly with four years ago when they were already eliminated after just two games in Brazil.
Manager Gareth Southgate's decision to bring the third-youngest squad on show in Russia is paying off so far as the Three Lions look full of energy and lacking in the fear of failure that has blighted so many campaigns in a 52-year wait to win a major tournament.
Most importantly of all, in Kane they have a striker the whole world will now fear.
Japan drew 2-2 with Senegal in a late match Sunday. The third match of Sunday featured Group H bottom-dwellers, with Colombia staying alive for the final 16 with an unexpectedly easy victory over Poland.
England face Belgium in the final Group G match on Thursday night (1am Friday, Thailand time). Manager 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.
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.
The final matches of group play begin Monday night with four games.
At 9pm (Thailand time) Group A leaders Russia play Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia face Egypt. The final Group B matches will be at 1am — Iran vs Portugal and Spain vs Morocco.
There will be no World Cup matches on Friday, with the Round of 16 scheduled to start Saturday evening, Thailand time. The Group A winners will play the Group B runner-up, after which Group B winners will play Group A's second place finisher.
In just two World Cup appearances, Tottenham striker Kane now has as many World Cup goals as Lionel Messi after backing up his double to beat Tunisia with the first World Cup hat-trick from an Englishman since Gary Lineker in 1986.
A winner of 57 England caps as a player, Southgate has earned rave reviews for creating a more relaxed and open environment between players, press and fans.
He even managed to douse the flames of the first media storm of England's World Cup on the eve of the Panama match -- over whether journalists should reveal his team selections by recognising the press should not be cheerleaders.
Southgate and his backroom staff also deserve credit for a series of innovative set-piece routines that have already reaped four goals.
Kane has demonstrated that this England side has at least one reliable penalty taker should they be forced into a shootout in the weeks to come by smashing two immaculate spot-kicks into the top corner.
"We are just enjoying it," said Kane. "We have been working on set pieces and working on the way we play and it is all coming together.
"Fantastic to be through and to do it this way is brilliant."
Much tougher tests await, beginning with Belgium -- who have also hit a total of eight goals past Panama and Tunisia -- on Thursday.
Southgate even claimed he "didn't particularly like the performance" due to a sloppy start and conceding a late goal that leaves England level on goal difference with the Red Devils at the top of Group G.
A draw in Kaliningrad would mean the group winners would be decided on disciplinary records, with Belgium's three yellow cards to England's two so far meaning they sit in second place.