World Cup

ARSENAL star Bukayo Saka made sure he had a secret token from his club during his stunning two-goal performance against Iran.The England winger was in fine form as he netted twice in England’s 6-2 World Cup opening victory.
England’s Bukayo Saka was on fire against IranCredit: AP
The Arsenal star was named man of the match after he scored twiceCredit: Getty

Saka netted his side’s second goal with a superb volley before firing in the Three Lions’ fourth in the Doha rout.
And, after the starlet’s man-of-the-match showing, pictures revealed he was wearing his Arsenal shin pads for his Three Lions heroics.
The Gunners’ star has been brilliant this season as he ahs helped his side to the top of the Premier League table.
And his club fans were happy to see him representing them in Qatar.
Bukayo Saka was outstanding against Iran
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One said: “This just makes me love him more!”
Another tweeted: “Saka is wearing Arsenal shin pads for today’s game. Tears in my eyes.”
A third added: “Bukayo Saka wearing his Arsenal shin pads on his England WC debut. Immensely proud.”
A fourth chimed in with: “Arsenal’s star boy, England’s number 17.
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“We’re all right behind you, B!”
A fifth said: “Saka is fighting with the Arsenal on his back!”
Saka and the rest of his team-mates will now switch their attentions to their next group games against the USA and Wales. More

ENGLAND have suffered an injury scare after Harry Kane limped out of the Khalifa Stadium with his ankle strapped.The Three Lions began their World Cup campaign in Qatar with a brilliant 6-2 victory over Iran this afternoon.
Harry Kane has provided England with an injury scare after he was spotted with his ankle strappedCredit: Twitter @David_Ornstein
He was spotted limping with his ankle strapped after the win over IranCredit: PA
The star was sent tumbling by Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji’s tackleCredit: AP
Kane did not appear to be too worried afterwards as he visited his loved ones in the standsCredit: AP
Bukayo Saka grabbed two of the goals while Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford also got their names on the scoresheet.
However, England’s captain not only failed to get amongst the goals, he also suffered a knock to his ankle.
Kane went down holding his ankle following a meaty tackle at the start of the second half.
He was able to continue playing after treatment but he was given a breather later on as he was subbed off on 76 minutes.
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As he left the ground he had strapping on his ankle as he limped towards the team bus.
SunSport understands that he will be assessed over the next 48 hours, but England have no serious fears over his fitness.

Boss Gareth Southgate said afterwards: “I think Harry [Kane]’s fine.”
Kane was also pictured in the stands after the game with a smile on his face.
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And Kane made no reference to his supposed knock in a post-match clip on social media.
He said: “Hi guys, obviously a really good start to the World Cup campaign. Full credit to the boys.
“It’s never easy getting off to a winning start in a major tournament and to score six goals shows that we’re in a really good place.
“Still a lot of work to do of course. We know that there’s a long way to go. But overall, really pleasing.
“Congrats to Jude [Bellingham] for his first England goal, no better place to do it.
“Bukayo [Saka] on fire with two great finishes so, yeah, everyone out there today done their country proud.
“We move onto the next one now, so thanks for all your support back home and here in the stadium as well.
“Let’s keep it going for the next game against the USA.”
England face the USA on Friday in the second match of Group B.
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And that is before their third and final one against Wales on Tuesday 29 November.
Kane will also be desperate to play in both of those matches as he needs just three more goals to overtake Wayne Rooney as England’s all-time top scorer. More

JUDE BELLINGHAM produced a marvellous display as England began their World Cup campaign in style. Bellingham kick started England’s emphatic victory over Iran with a looping header from Luke Shaw’s cross.
Jude Bellingham celebrates his opening goal against IranCredit: Reuters
England dominated proceedings against Iran in large part thanks to Bellingham
And the 19-year-old was the beating heart of England’s midfield during the 6-2 thrashing.
At the last World Cup and even the Euros England were crying out for a player able to create from deep and help with fluid build-up.
Bellingham was earmarked to be that player and if his performance against Iran is anything to go by then Gareth Southgate will have found his solution.
But let’s break down what made Bellingham’s game so great.
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Bellingham’s stunning pass map against Iran
For starters, Bellingham was confident on the ball and did not shirk away from his responsibilities.
Out of 95 passes he made, only three went astray from their mark.
This gave him a remarkable accuracy rate of 97 per cent, especially considering 13 of these passes went into the final third.
Bellingham was instrumental in helping England bypass Iran’s defensive block and played a particularly noteworthy role in the final goal as he released Callum Wilson into space before the striker passed to Jack Grealish for a tap-in.
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Bellingham was at the heart of England’s emphatic victory
The former Birmingham star’s movement and willingness to get on the ball are proven by his heat map and touch map.
Possession was won nine times by Bellingham throughout the game – the most of anyone on the pitch – while he also won seven duels.
Bellingham seemed to relish the challenge against the Iranian midfield.
There are likely to be tougher challenges for him coming later in the tournament, with the final group game against Wales likely to be a particularly spicy and combative affair.
The Dragons are in action against the USA later today and are hoping they can join England by getting off to a winning start in their first World Cup game for 64 years.
Bellingham was everywhere against Iran More

GHANA players were forced to evacuate their Doha hotel after a suspected bomb scare on Sunday.The Black Stars get their World Cup campaign underway against Portugal on Thursday.
Ghana players were forced to evacuate their Doha hotel on Sunday afternoonCredit: DoubleTree by Hilton
Ghana get their World Cup underway against Portugal on ThursdayCredit: Getty
But their preparations were disrupted four days out from their opener.
According to the Mirror, all guests were forced to leave the Double Tree Hilton hotel.
Fire services were called but fortunately guests were allowed to return 45 minutes later after the premises had been examined.
It was the second time this has happened in the space of two days after guests were also forced to leave on Friday.
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On that occasion, sniffer dogs were brought in to examine every room.
But luckily that happened before Ghana had landed in Qatar.
Hotels being evacuated has been a trend across Qatar since the world began to descend on the Middle East nation.
SunSport reported how guests were being kicked out at a moments notice.
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In a statement, Ghana’s FA said: “Just after 14:30 Qatar time, on Sunday, November 20th, the emergency alarm at the Ghana team hotel in Doha went off, prompting all occupants to self-evacuate.
“The Qatar Fire Service crew arrived shortly after to attend to the emergency alarm.
“It was marked safe after approximately 45 minutes of checks and all occupants were able to re-occupy their hotel rooms.”
Ghana’s World Cup squad includes the likes of Arsenal star Thomas Partey and Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew. More

JUST when Harry Maguire thought his season could not get any more frustrating.The England defender, after an absolutely wretched season with Manchester United, looked back to his old self at the Khalifa International Stadium today.
Harry Maguire looked back to his best against IranCredit: Reuters
The defender was forced off mid-way through the second halfCredit: Getty
Maguire was treated on the pitch for a suspected concussionCredit: Getty
Jude Bellingham put England in front with his first England goalCredit: EPA
Goalscorers Bellingham and Bukayo Saka celebrateCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
His defending was composed, his passing through the lines was outstanding and in the final third of the pitch – in what was a terrific England performance – he was causing absolute chaos.
And then moments after Mehdi Tarebi pulled one goal back for 4-1 in the 65th minute, with fingers pointing at Maguire, the defender was being checked by a medic for concussion.
Soon after, a bewildered-looking and totally pi**ed off Maguire was trudging off the pitch.
His afternoon was done and England brought on Eric Dier as the replacement. For poor old Harry, you really could not make it up.
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This one blip, though, should take nothing anyway from an utterly brilliant England performance.
Officially, Maguire did not go off with a concussion meaning he could play against the United States on Friday.
After delivering his worst ever England performance in the 3-3 draw with Germany in September, Maguire was delivering one of his finest.
Ahead of the game, there were huge cheers, with only stifled jeers when Maguire’s name was announced.
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Many supporters back home, though, will have felt slightly different, believing Gareth Southgate’s loyalty had gone too far.
Maguire, who has only started three Premier League games this season for United, barely put a foot wrong here at the Khalifa International Stadium until signalling he could not continue.
The centre-back had strong calls for a penalty after being wrestled to the ground by Rouzbeh Chesmi, with the pair having a running battle. But after a VAR check, no spot-kick was given despite Maguire’s protests.
Maguire then had the first chance of the game but was unable to get a clean connection to Harry Kane’s cross.
During the lengthy stoppage time for the Iranian keeper, England’s fans behind the goal, about 4000 of them, delivered a rendition of the Harry Maguire song, something the central defender will have loved.
Maguire then rattled the Iranian crossbar with a powerful header from Kieran Trippier’s corner.
And Maguire then started the brilliant move with a clever pass from the back that led to Luke Shaw crossing for Jude Bellingham to light up the game with an outstanding header.
Saka scored twice as England romped to a 6-2 winCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Marcus Rashford scored moments after coming onCredit: Getty
Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheetCredit: Reuters
Maguire was one of the first to congratulate the 19-year-old and then played a part in the second goal.
Because of the tussles he was having at set-pieces, Maguire dropped back to the edge of the area. It was an obvious ploy and he was picked out by Luke Shaw from another corner to tee the ball up for Bukayo Saka to produce a stunning finish for the second.
Raheem Sterling, playing on the left of a front three, had not seen the ball as much as Saka, but he made his presence felt by sticking out a foot to dispatch Kane’s cross into the net.
Maybe with his confidence back, Maguire was spraying the ball around the pitch and on one occasion in the second half, tore forward in a counter-attack.
The highlight of the game, in terms of individual skill, was certainly Saka’s goal for 4-0.
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Tarebi pulled one back as he drifted around the back of Maguire to score. And to make matters worse, Maguire had clearly taken a knock to the head before the goal and went off with that injury.
Yet the goals kept flowing with Marcus Rashford scoring with his first touches since missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final while Jack Grealish put the seal on an incredible England performance before Iran pulled another back with a ridiculously-awarded penalty. More