ENGLAND have thrashed Iran 6-2 to record their biggest World Cup opening game win!
Teen star Jude Bellingham opened the scoring to head England in front for his first international goal before Bukayo Saka notched either side of a Raheem Sterling strike.
Super subs Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish then ran in England’s fifth and sixth before Iran scored a 103rd minute penalty.
- Result: England 6-2 Iran
- England XI: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Sterling, Mount, Saka; Kane
- Iran XI: Beiranvand; Moharrami, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Mohammedi; Nourollahi, Cheshmi, Hajsafi; Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Karimi
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Stay up to date with all the latest from England’s World Cup opener…
Rashford strikes again
Marcus Rashford scored just 49 seconds after coming on for England, the third-quickest goal by a substitute in World Cup history.
Credit: PA England legend Teddy Sheringham reacts to Three Lions win
Jude Bellingham reacts
When speaking to BBC One, the England midfielder said: “I told you I was saving that goal, really good day game for us.
“Six goals in a World Cup game is really impressive, regardless of who you play against. They came out really well, really strong, hard to break down and we didn’t have anything clear for quite a while.
“With more goals we opened them up but the start was tough and we had to dig it out, even when we weren’t getting it all our own way. Important that we learned how to create chances against those kind of sides. Bit disappointed about the two goals to be honest.”
When discussing his goal, he added: “To be honest, I thought it had missed! Then it took ages to loop into the goal.
“I said I wanted to score more goals for Dortmund and England this year and to get in the right position. Brilliant ball in from Shaw and I was just there to flick it away. Really proud moment for me.”
Credit: Getty
Match Stats
Bellingham impresses after scoring his first international goal
Jude Bellingham has become England’s second youngest scorer at the World Cup (19 years, 145 days) behind only Michael Owen in 1998 (18 years, 190 days).
Credit: Twitter.com / @oilysailor Bukayo Saka reacts
When speaking to BBC One, the England winger said: “I can’t describe the feeling, it is amazing.
“I am so happy and so proud. We got the win as well so it is a really special day.
“We needed that good start. We haven’t played the best coming into the tournament. 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.
“It is amazing to get the win under so much pressure. But we have to be consistent because we have the next game coming up in a few days and we have to win again.
“I feel in a good place. I feel the support and love from the fans, the coaching staff and my team-mates. That is all I need. I feel ready to give 100% and I will continue to do that every time I put the shirt on.”
Credit: Getty Saka shines on World Cup debut
Full Time – England 6-2 Iran
What a performance from England!
Gareth Southgate couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign, especially considering it was the most triumphant of any opening game victory in the country’s history!
Saka and Bellingham were both outstanding throughout, causing numerous problems for Iran with their creativity.
Rashford and Grealish were also quick to make an impact when they came off the bench, along with Wilson who unselfishly claimed the assist for the sixth goal.
Full Time – England 6-2 Iran
That result marks England’s biggest ever World Cup opening game win!
Credit: Getty
Full Time – England 6-2 Iran
England take all three points from their opening game in style!
90+13. GOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL IRAN!!!!!!
Taremi slots the penalty into the bottom right corner, sending Pickford the wrong way!
90+10. England 6-1 Iran
Penalty to Iran!
Taremi goes to ground following a shirt pull from Stones.
It’s a soft penalty to give away – especially considering the one that Maguire was denied at the start of the game…
90+9. England 6-1 Iran
We’re 100 minutes into the game and we have our first VAR check!
Iran could have a penalty here…
90+8. England 6-1 Iran
Iran come close to scoring a second!
Teremi sends the ball through to Azmoun, who runs one-on-one with Pickford in goal.
Azmoun attempts a powerful strike, but the England goalkeeper makes an incredible save to tip it onto the bar!
90+7. England 6-1 Iran
You can tell that England are back at a major tournament – ‘Southgate you’re the one’ is ringing around the stadium!
90+2. England 6-1 Iran
10 minutes have been added on!
90+1. England 6-1 Iran
Wilson latches on to a through ball and runs into the box.
Just as he looks like he is about to shoot, he squares it to Grealish in the middle who taps the ball into an empty net!
Credit: Reuters 90. GOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL ENGLAND!!!!!!
It’s SIX thanks to Grealish!!!!!
83. England 5-1 Iran
Rashford comes close to scoring a second!
The winger receives the ball on the right before travelling into the box and unleashing a shot, but his effort is blocked.
78. England 5-1 Iran
Iran have made some changes.
Karimi, Noorollahi, Jahanbakhsh, Mohammadi and Cheshimi have all been subbed off.
Ezatolahi, Kanaanizadegen, Torabi, Gholizadeh and Azmoun are on.
Inside the ground – redemption for Rashy
Marcus Rashford has just scored with his first touches of the ball for England since missing a penalty against Italy in the final of Euro2020 at Wembley 16 months ago.
That is why all the players mobbed him, writes Charlie Wyett.
Credit: AP
77. England 5-1 Iran
Iran have another chance as Taremi travels into the box with the ball, but his strike flies way over the bar.
75. England 5-1 Iran
Another substitution for England.
Kane is replaced by Wilson.
73. England 5-1 Iran
Just a few seconds after being introduced, Rashford nets England’s fifth of the match!
The Man Utd star receives the ball on the right before cutting inside and slotting a low driven shot into the bottom left corner.
Credit: AP 72. GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL ENGLAND!!!!!!
Rashford scores with his first touch of the game!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
