Gareth Southgate’s England dominated this game, scoring six goals and having 79% ball possession.It was a strong performance from Saka who won the man of the match award.
🦁 @England got their #FIFAWorldCup campaign off to a flyer!#Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2022
There will be some concerns about the Three Lions defending as they sloppily conceded two goals to Taremi through defensive lapses in concentration. They got the job done today but cannot afford this when they encounter stronger tests later in the tournament.
England confirms its dominanance to beat Iran.Bellingham, Saka (2), Sterling, Rashford and Grealish were the English scorers against the Iranian team
The English national team has shown their dominaance of the table and confirms its favouritism in Group B by beating Iran 6-2 in its first match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The match had to be stopped due to the injury of the Iranian goal Alireza Beiranvand after a clash with his teammate Majid Hosseini.After several minutes of assistance and an attempt to resume the match, the goalkeeper had to retire on a stretcher and his place was occupied by substitute goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini, in the 20th minute.
England scored with three goals in 10 minutes.England overturned to look for the first goal. He was touched by Mount and Maguire, with a ball that crashed into the crossbar, but the first goal was the work of Bellingham.The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker made his debut in a World Cup and was in charge of opening the can with a precise header after a Shaw centre.
It was the 35th minute and England already had the prize for its domain. The ‘Three Lions’ then continued to look to expand the score and did so, in 43, when Saka scored the second after a corner kick.
The Arsenal midfielder released a spectacular left-hander, after Maguire lowered the ball, and beat the Iranian goal that he could do nothing to avoid the second. Luxury World Cup premiere also for Saka.
Just two minutes later, Sterling appeared to finish a precise pass from Harry Kane after a nice play by the English and put the 3-0.
Thus, in just 10 minutes, England had sentenced a clash that still had the added 14 and the entire second half.
The ‘Three Lions’ continue to score in the second half
Despite having the game in their pocket, Gareth Southgate did not take their foot off the accelerator and went for more. This is how the quarter of the English arrived, the work of Saka, after a cross shot shortly after the beginning of the second half.
Iran, on the other hand, was still looking for his opportunity and did not miss it when, in 66, Taremi beat Pickford. It was the first occasion that the Queiroz team had and they took advantage of it with a powerful and overlooked shot with which they established the 4-1 after a mistake of the English Defence.
Four minutes later the English beat Hosseini again. Marcus Rashford did it, who had just entered the field and, in the first ball he touched, dazzled. The United striker received the ball on the right and after getting rid of his rivals he defined perfectly to put the 5-1 on the scoreboard.
Taremi, Iran’s scorer
Gareth Southgate”s team extended their account with Grealish’s goal, who came to endorse that ‘The Three Lions’ are the favourites to take first place in Group B.
With 10 minutes added in this second act there was still time to see one more goal. It was after a penalty pointed out by the collegiate at the beginning of the VAR for a grab of Stones in the small area.
Taremi took care of the pitch and tricked Pickford into putting the final 6-2. A result that leaves the English as favourite leaders and clarso in a Group in which Wales and the United States are also present.
Jude Bellingham (19 years, 145 days) and Bukayo Saka (21 years, 77 days) became the second and third youngest goal scorers for England at a FIFA World Cup.
Michael Owen remains the youngest, scoring his goal against Romania at France 1998 when he was 18 years and 190 days old.
It’s a really proud moment for me. I thought I’d missed, to be honest, as it took ages to loop into the goal. We’ve got to enjoy this win. It takes the pressure off a bit, but we’ll still be at the level playing for two more wins, because that is how we want to play.” Jude Bellingham after becoming England’s second youngest World Cup goalscorer to set the Three Lions on their way to a convincing victory.
England conceded two goals today and manager Gareth Southgate is aware that their defending must improve ahead of potentially tougher games against a youthful USA side and a Gareth Bale inspired Wales.
Southgate is justifiably frustrated by the way in which his troops conceded two goals against Iran who were never in the game.
“I’m a bit fed up with the end of it, really! To win by that margin, to play as we did for the majority of the game, we’ve got to be really happy. We looked ready. The players dealt with the game really well. Our press was really good, our movement was really good. I’ve got to be really happy. But we shouldn’t be conceding two goals at that stage of the game. We’ll have to be right on our game against the States. It’s a great start, but we’ll have to be better,” he said.
Man of the match Bukayo Saka has established himself as a vital cog for England and will be key for the Three Lions in this tournament. He is proud of the win for his country as he feels the game showed the team’s strength in depth.
“I can’t describe the feeling. It’s amazing, I’m so happy, I’m so proud, and we’ve got the win as well, so it’s a really special day! We needed a good start, we didn’t play the best coming into the tournament. But we showed everyone how much quality we have and what we can do. It’s amazing. We have to be consistent, because we have the next game coming up in a few days and we have to come again. I feel like I’m in a good place,” said the Arsenal star.
By Fernando Perez (Football Analyst, Spain)
Bengali