England earned their first three points of the 2022 FIFA World Cup by thrashing Iran 6-2 in their opening match on Tuesday afternoon.
The Three Lions controlled the first few minutes of the encounter at the Khalifa International Stadium, with the a defensive combination of Harry Maguire and John Stones seeing a lot of the ball.
Early on, the pair had a double penalty claim waved down as they seemed to be grappling in the box following a corner from right-back Kieran Trippier. However, the play was waved on after a normal VAR review.
The dangerous whipped cross from captain Harry Kane brought about another opportunity for Maguire in the seventh minute, but the Manchester United center-back was unable to direct his effort to the goal.
Kane’s pass into Iran’s penalty area caused goalie Alireza Beiranvand to clash with a teammate, causing an eight-minute break in play in the Group B match. The shot-stopper attempted to play on but had to be changed because of a face injury; in the 18th minute, Hossein Hosseini replaced his comrade.
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when brilliant Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham’s glancing header beat Hosseini to put Gareth Southgate’s team ahead, with Luke Shaw providing the assist.
Then, in the 44th minute, Bukayo Saka extended England’s advantage with a left-footed drive that bounced past Iran’s goalie after Harry Maguire went high before laying the ball over for the Arsenal winger.
Another goal for Saka! ?#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/WLDsSvVfn4
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2022
Raheem Sterling added a third goal for the Three Lions a minute later.
With complete control of the game and no meaningful threats to their own goal, England began the second half just how they ended the first.
After slipping from the right side of the field into the area and coolly putting the ball past Iran’s replacement goalie in the 62nd minute, Arsenal winger Saka doubled his tally.
Porto striker Mehdi Taremi scored a counterattack goal to put Iran within one, making the score 4-1, three minutes after England had scored its fourth goal.
With just 26 seconds on the pitch before scoring with a precise finish on his weaker foot to put the game firmly out of reach for the Iranians, Gareth Southgate’s team added a fifth goal through sub Marcus Rashford.
After coming on in the second half, Manchester City playmaker Jack Grealish joined the scoring in the 90th minute. He finished a quick counterattack with Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson providing the assist.
Iran Taremi converted a penalty kick for England after Stones was found to have tugged an opponent’s shirt in the England box.
