World Cup 2022

WITH just one day to go until the World Cup kicks off, England are once again hoping to bring it home. And ahead of the Three Lions opener against Iran, SunSport decided to take a look at how England tend to fare in their opening games of the World Cup since 1966.
England will be hoping to get off to a good start against IranCredit: Getty
Harry Kane inspired England in 2018’s openerCredit: Getty
Bryan Robson scored a goal after just 27 seconds back in the 1980’sCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But Rob Green’s 2010 fumble showed the ugly side of England’s opening game historyCredit: Getty
1970 – Romania 0 England 1
Starting from 1970, England kicked off their defence of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Romania thanks to a Geoff Hurst goal.
Sir Alf Ramsey’s side made it to the quarter-finals before a Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller inspired West Germany came from two goals down to beat England in extra-time, as Brazil went on the win the competition.
1982 – England 3 France 1
Having failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 tournaments, England announced their return to World Cup with a bang courtesy of a 3-1 win over France.
Bryan Robson’s opener after 27 seconds was a record until 2002, but after progressing into the second group stage with three wins from three England were then thwarted as West Germany progressed into the semi-finals from the second group stage.
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1986 – Portugal 1 England 0
Four years later, England suffered an opening game 1-0 defeat against Portugal. But a draw against Morocco and a 3-0 win over Poland were enough to secure passage into the last 16.
Another 3-0 win followed against Paraguay before the infamous hand of god from Diego Maradona saw England crash out of the tournament to eventual winners Argentina.

1990 – England 1 Rep of Ireland 1
A grudge match against the Republic of Ireland kicked off the campaign at Italia 90, where a draw was played out thanks to goals from Gary Lineker and Kevin Sheedy either side of half-time.
England made it all the way to semi-finals before being knocked out on penalties by West Germany just months before it united with its Eastern half.
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1998 – England 2 Tunisia 0
After embarrassingly failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, England once again bounced back with a bang as goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes secured a 2-0 win against Tunisia.
England made it to the knock oust before once again falling foul on penalties in the last 16, this time to Argentina as David Beckham became public enemy No1 for his red card in that game.
2002 – England 1 Sweden 1
England started off the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea with a 1-1 draw against Sweden after Beckham’s qualifying heroics against Greece.
Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad progressed into the quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual champions Brazil – who made up for losing the 1998 final to France thanks to Ronaldo’s brace against Germany.
2006 – England 1 Paraguay 0
The so-called golden generation got off to a winning, if not unspectacular, start with a 1-0 win over Paraguay.
And they went all the way to the quarter-finals before Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo inspired headlines saw the Three Lions go out on penalties for the third time at the World Cup.
Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were making all the headlines back in 2006 in the quarter-finalsCredit: Getty
2010 – England 1 USA 1
Rob Green’s fumble against the USA was a glimpse of what was to come as England laboured to a 1-1 draw at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
England limped narrowly into the last 16 before being thumped 4-1 by Germany in a game still infamous for Frank Lampard’s ghost goal less than a minute after Matthew Upson’s opener.
2014 – England 1 Italy 2
Brazil 2014 saw England’s worst performance at a World Cup since 1996 as Roy Hodgson’s side failed to win a single game.
The opener against Italy saw England lose 2-1 to Italy, but the celebrations for Daniel Sturridge’s equaliser saw physio Gary Lewin leave the field on a stretcher with a dislocated ankle.
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2018 – Tunisia 1 England 2
After the embarrassment of 2014 and the 2016 Euros England were looking to turn the page, and that they did under Gareth Southgate.
Harry Kane headed home an injury-time winner against Tunisia to secure a 2-1 win during the opener of the last World Cup, when England broke their penalty curse against Colombia and made it all the way to semi-final’s. More

BRAZIL forward Richarlison physically MOVED teammate Fred after he sat in Neymar’s seat for a squad picture ahead of the World Cup.The five-time world champions are heading to Qatar as the favourites to lift the trophy.
Richarlison went over and dragged Fred up out of the seatCredit: BRAZIL
He then walked the Man Utd man to the sideCredit: BRAZIL
And he popped him down in a different spot to make way for NeymarCredit: BRAZIL
Tite’s 26-man squad boasts a plethora of superstars led by Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar.
And it was Tottenham’s Richarlison who reminded Manchester United midfielder Fred of the hierarchy among the players on the eve of the tournament.
As they prepared for a photo together, Fred sat down in the middle of the shot.
If he had stayed there, he would have been situated next to Brazil captain Marquinhos and Newcastle man Bruno Guimaraes.
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But Richarlison was having none of it and proceeded to move the 29-year-old.
He walked over to Fred and dragged him to the side, before sitting him down in a different spot in between Raphinha and Alex Telles.
It was a hilarious moment which caused a huge reaction on social media.
One person said: “😅 Poor Fred. Good to see players respect Neymar”.
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Another added: “I feel like Fred always gets bullied”.
And a third jokingly said: “Not like Fred to be out of position”.
Brazil kick off their World Cup campaign on Thursday when they take on Cameroon.
They have also been drawn alongside Switzerland and Serbia in Group G.
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No South American country has won the World Cup since Brazil last lifted the trophy back in 2002.
Over the past 20 years, Brazil’s best performance came on home turf in 2014 when they reached the semi-finals before being thumped 7-1 by eventual winners Germany.
Brazil are seeking a record-extending sixth World CupCredit: Getty More

WAYNE ROONEY believes England have the BEST squad at the World Cup – but he is worried their centre-backs could cost them.The DC United manager, 37, is the all-time top scorer for the Three Lions with 53 goals.
Wayne Rooney thinks England the best squad at the World CupCredit: Alamy
The legendary striker does admit he has fears over England’s centre-backsCredit: Getty
He was part of England’s famous Golden Generation that failed to deliver on their promise by delivering a trophy on the international stage.
Rooney played at three World Cup tournaments and recognises that the current crop of stars have achieved a lot more over recent years than he and his former star-studded team-mates did.
And he is adamant that despite other nations having a host of iconic names themselves, it is Gareth Southgate that possesses the best squad out in Qatar.
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However, while speaking to The Times, the ex-Manchester United and Everton forward admitted his fears over the backline.
Rooney said: “England have one of, if not the strongest squads. Full backs, midfielders, attacking players — there is strength right across the board.
“The only area that is not as strong as some of the other nations is the centre backs. “Previously we have had the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry who were world class.
“When you look at Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka we’ve got to choose from, it’s as good as we’ve had.”
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Despite those doubts over defence, Rooney did reveal his eagerness over seeing two of them perform in the Middle East.
He added: “I’m really intrigued to see what Gareth Southgate does with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Personally, I would start him.

“I think Harry Maguire will have another big tournament. He has performed better for England than he has for United — I think he would agree — and over the last couple of years United have struggled.
“He hasn’t had much protection and it is no coincidence that now there is more stability in the middle of the pitch with Casemiro, United’s defenders are playing better.
“With England, he has always had that protection.”
England begin their World Cup campaign against Iran on MondayCredit: Reuters More