Doha: England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start when they beat a shock Iran with goals and produced a timely return to form for Gareth Southgate’s side in a stunning 6-2 Group B victory on Monday. coped with
England came into the tournament without a win in six games, but a dynamic opening 45 minutes saw Jude Bellingham score his first England goal, Bukayo Saka double the lead and Raheem Sterling grabbed the third set in the second half. .
Saka’s second goal after the break allowed them to take their foot off the gas and open the door for Iran to pull one back through Mehdi Treimi, before substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish rounded off England’s scoring. done.
While Iran’s Treimi grabbed another goal from the penalty spot in the 13th minute of stoppage time, awarded for a minor shirt pull after a VAR review, England’s work was already done.
“We didn’t play the best game in the tournament,” Saka said. There was a lot of talk and speculation about our form but we showed everyone how much quality we have and what we can do, said Saka, whose last major tournament ended with him. Missed a penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout.
Off-pitch issues
In a World Cup dominated by politics, despite FIFA’s determination to let football do the talking, the build-up to the game was overshadowed by off-pitch issues.
England captain Harry Kane abandoned plans to wear the ‘One Love’ armband after FIFA clarified that those wearing the multi-coloured symbol of diversity and inclusion could be prosecuted, with the striker ultimately Opted for “No Discrimination” sanctioned by FIFA. version
There was also speculation that Iranian players would use the platform to show solidarity with anti-government protests at home, and as the Iranian national anthem began to play in the stadium, the players stood stone-faced and silent.
The game finally took center stage and it wasn’t long before England got into top gear.
Their cause was helped when Iran’s influential goalkeeper Alireza Beranvand was sent off after 20 minutes after a painful clash of heads with a team-mate, but they took full advantage.
Rolls Royce
Bellingham, the 19-year-old England midfielder, highlighted why some of Europe’s biggest clubs are keeping an eye on him, as he purred like a Rolls-Royce in the engine room and his opening goal put England ahead at the Khalifa International Stadium. What stood in your way?
Timing his run perfectly, Bellingham rose to meet Luke Shaw’s cross from the left, and directed a looping header over the keeper and into the top corner in the 35th minute to become the World Cup winner. Became the first player born in or after 2000.
Shaw was again the provider for England’s second goal as his corner was headed across the area by Harry Maguire to Saka, who expertly headed into the top corner.
The game was then effectively over as a contest when Sterling added a third with the outside of his boot on the volley from Harry Kane’s cross after Bellingham were once again involved in the build-up.
However, England were unable to do so, as Saka scored his second goal in the 62nd minute.
Sterling, whose place in the side was under scrutiny after a mixed form for Chelsea, turned in midfield and fed Saka, who dropped his shoulder and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, in and out. Annoyed.
Iran pulled one back when Wahid Amiri fed Treimi and he smashed it past England keeper Jordan Pickford into the top corner, but Rashford came through a raft of England changes in the 70th minute to cut inside a defender. The team scored after the fifth minute.
England’s Grealish headed home the sixth from close range in the 90th minute, following a run and cross from the right by fellow substitute Callum Wilson, before Tarimi’s late spot-kick. They next face the USA on Friday, when Iran take on Wales.
