‘England Defeats Iran With A Score Of Six To Start Their World Cup Campaign Off Strong’ It was the perfect start for England manager Gareth Southgate as Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka scored twice to help them beat Iran 6-2 in their first match of the 2022 World Cup.
Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, and Jack Grealish also found themselves on the scoresheet. The only concern was a late injury to central defender Harry Maguire who had to be taken off in the second half.
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- Bukayo Saka of England celebrates with teammates Harry Kane and Luke Shaw after scoring their team’s fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran
England Defeats Iran With A Score Of Six To Start Their World Cup Campaign Off Strong
England defeated Iran 6-2 in their Group B opener to get off to a great start at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar thanks to two goals from Bukayo Saka.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham scored the game’s first goal with a header on 35 minutes as Gareth Southgate’s team took control right away.
After an extended delay due to Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s concussion, the first half was completed by the Three Lions scoring three goals in eight minutes through Saka and Raheem Sterling.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham scored the game’s first goal with a header on 35 minutes as Gareth Southgate’s team took control right away.
After an extended delay due to Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s concussion, the first half was completed by the Three Lions scoring three goals in eight minutes through Saka and Raheem Sterling.
After the break, England continued to dominate, and Saka scored his second goal of the game with a jinking run and shot just beyond the hour mark.
Iran had hardly made a threat, but Mehdi Taremi’s magnificent first-time shot past Jordan Pickford gave them a small advantage.
In the following 49 seconds of his arrival on the field, substitute Marcus Rashford made it five, and Jack Grealish added a sixth to cap off a successful day for Southgate and company.
Additionally, late in stoppage time, Iran was given a questionable penalty kick by VAR; they scored, but it didn’t really matter.
Following that, Iran plays Wales on Friday while England plays the United States.
Iran had hardly made a threat, but Mehdi Taremi’s magnificent first-time shot past Jordan Pickford gave them a small advantage.
In the following 49 seconds of his arrival on the field, substitute Marcus Rashford made it five, and Jack Grealish added a sixth to cap off a successful day for Southgate and company.
Additionally, late in stoppage time, Iran was given a questionable penalty kick by VAR; they scored, but it didn’t really matter.
Following that, Iran plays Wales on Friday while England plays the United States.
TALKING POINT
The greatest six, but what about politics?
The manner in which England destroyed Iran will undoubtedly have boosted spirits and belief among supporters about what this squad could accomplish in Qatar. England entered the game coming off a six-game losing streak.
Although, there were many positives in terms of football and individual player performances, pre-game politics are still a major topic of discussion following the game.
While England backed down on the “One Love” armband Harry Kane was slated to wear when FIFA threatened the player would face an automatic booking for sporting it, Iran’s players were notable for not singing their own national song, and their fans booed it.
The manner in which England destroyed Iran will undoubtedly have boosted spirits and belief among supporters about what this squad could accomplish in Qatar. England entered the game coming off a six-game losing streak.
Although, there were many positives in terms of football and individual player performances, pre-game politics are still a major topic of discussion following the game.
While England backed down on the “One Love” armband Harry Kane was slated to wear when FIFA threatened the player would face an automatic booking for sporting it, Iran’s players were notable for not singing their own national song, and their fans booed it.
Also, expect more to be said about that as the decision to wear the FIFA “No Discrimination” armband instead hasn’t been well received by the public. Some have suggested that it would have been unjust to wear it while Kane was wearing it, while others believed it would have been a noteworthy position.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Bellingham, Jude (England) The 19-year-old has had an outstanding start to the season for his club, and he carried that level to the international stage by leading the midfield. Also, he scored England’s first goal, and based on this performance, he has a good chance of becoming one of the finest young players in the competition.
PLAYER RATINGS
ENGLAND: Pickford 6, Stones 7, Maguire 7, Trippier 8, Shaw 8, Rice 7, Bellingham 8, Mount 7, Saka 8, Kane 7, Sterling 8. Subs: Grealish 6, Rashford 7, Foden 6, Dier 6, Wilson 7.
IRAN: Beiranvand 5, Moharrami 6, Hajsafi 6, Mohammadi 6, Jahanbakhsh 5, Pouraliganji 6, Taremi 6, Cheshmi 6, Karimi 6, M.Hosseini 6, Nourollahi 6. Subs: S.Hosseini 6, Ezatolahi 6, Gholizadeh 6, Kanani 6, Torabi 5, Azmoun 5.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
35’ – GOAL! – England 1-0 Iran. Bellingham glances a lovely header into the far corner from Shaw’s pinpoint cross.
43’ – GOAL! – England 2-0 Iran. Saka rifles Maguire’s knockdown from a left-wing corner into the top corner from the edge of the area.
45’ – GOAL! – England 3-0 Iran. Sterling volleys home at the near post from Kane’s lovely right-wing cross.
62’ – GOAL! – England 4-0 Iran. Saka takes on Sterling’s pass, cuts past two, and fires a low shot beyond the keeper.
65’ – GOAL! – England 4-1 Iran. Mehdi Taremi races on to a pass from the right and smashes a fine first-time shot beyond Pickford.
71’ – GOAL! – England 5-1 Iran. Rashford makes an instant impact off the bench as he cuts inside his man and rolls a lovely finish into the corner.
90’ – GOAL! – England 6-1 Iran. Grealish taps home after unselfish play from Wilson, who charged clear and opted to cut it back for a simple finish.
90+12’ – GOAL! – England 6-2 Iran. Taremi fires a penalty past Pickford to grab another consolation for Iran at the death.
KEY STATS
After Michael Owen in 1998, Bellingham is now England’s second-youngest World Cup scorer (19 years, 145 days) (18 years, 190 days).
Also, for the first time in their history, England had two players, however, both under the age of 21, score in a single World Cup game thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham (19 years old) and Bukayo Saka (21 years old).
Rashford scored England’s third-fastest goal in World Cup history just 49 seconds after entering the game.
Southgate has nine victories over Sir Alf Ramsey’s eight, making him the England manager with the most victories at big competitions (World Cup/EUROs).
Also, for the first time in their history, England had two players, however, both under the age of 21, score in a single World Cup game thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham (19 years old) and Bukayo Saka (21 years old).
Rashford scored England’s third-fastest goal in World Cup history just 49 seconds after entering the game.
Southgate has nine victories over Sir Alf Ramsey’s eight, making him the England manager with the most victories at big competitions (World Cup/EUROs).
Also Read: Iran Players Stay Silent During National Anthem At World Cup, Fans Boos At Backdrop Of Protests
