England kicked off their World Cup campaign in style this afternoon, battering Iran 6-2 in an impressive display out in Qatar.
After a blatant penalty was ignored and Harry Maguire hit the bar, the Three Lions ran riot in the first half with well taken goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.
Our very own Kieran Trippier was heavily involved – as he so often is – down the right, linking the play, offering an outlet and delivering dangerously from set pieces.
The second half was another one-sided affair. Saka bagged his second on the hour mark and Iran did pull one back five minutes later, but it was soon 5-1 when substitute Marcus Rashford scored just moments before Callum Wilson came on for his first appearance at a World Cup; which in turn gave Trippier the armband as Kane came off.
Wilson then got in on the action late on, following a lovely run in behind with an unselfish cut-back for Jack Grealish, who tapped in to make it 6-1. Iran then won a last-minute penalty following a VAR check, seeing Taremi slot past Pickford seconds before the full-time whistle to make it 6-2.
Here’s all of the goals from today’s convincing win in Qatar:
Next up for England is the USA on Friday (25th), followed by our final game of Group B against Wales a week tomorrow (29th).
(4-3-3): Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw – Rice, Bellingham, Mount – Saka, Sterling, Kane (c)
Subs: Pope, Ramsdale, Walker, A-Arnold, White, Dier, Coady, Henderson, Phillips, Gallagher, Grealish, Foden, Rashford, Wilson.
