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2022 FIFA World Cup

2022 World Cup: Saka Bags Brace As England Demolish Iran 6 -2

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2022 World Cup: Saka Bags Brace As England Demolish Iran 6 -2

Day two of the World Cup and it’s a huge one for fans as England looks to end a 56-year wait for a second World Cup as they clash against Iran on Monday lunchtime.

In one of the most controversial tournaments since, well, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, England kick off their campaign against an Iranian side they would well be advised not to underestimate, especially as the Three Lions are known for starting slowly at tournaments.

The 2022 edition of the most famous tournament in the world got underway on Sunday as Ecuador comfortably dispatched hosts Qatar 2-0, but all eyes are now focused on a fuller day of action and the introduction of two sides who have high hopes of going far.

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Gareth Southgate’s England kick off the day’s action against Iran, hours before Wales get their first World Cup campaign in 64 years underway against Gregg Berhalter’s United States.

There’s also a first glimpse at the Netherlands, managed once again by the legendary Louis van Gaal, and Sadio Mane-less Senegal – the Lions of Teranga definitely now without their star man after a late injury picked up playing for Bayern Munich.

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FT: England 6-2 Iran

That was the final kick of a crazy match.

England absolutely sensational for much of it, Bellingham and Saka were superb. It’s the perfect start for Southgate and his players to their World Cup campaign.

GOAL! England 6-2 Iran | Mehdi Taremi 90+13′
And he scores!

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In the 103rd minute of the match, it’s an eighth goal. Taremi took an age to start his run-up, and eventually rolls it into the bottom corner as Pickford dives the other way.

PENALTY IRAN!
And it will be a penalty for Iran!

Bizarre decision. Taremi stepping up to take it.

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3 minutes ago
90+11′ We’ve now played 100 mins, and there’s a VAR review for an Iran penalty! This match is never going to finish.

Stones with a slight shirt pull, nothing compared to when Maguire was wrestled to the ground in the first-half. Not really sure why this is getting so much attention.

90+8′ This match has been pure chaos.

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Azmoun clean through for Iran, Pickford with a stunning save to tip it onto the bar. Shame it really means nothing, deserves more attention!

8 minutes ago
90+5′ “Southgate you’re the one” being sung around the stadium. The good feeling is back!

The USA and Wales to come for England, safe to say they’ll be going into those matches with confidence high. Very high.

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90+2 mins:There are ten minutes added on! No mercy for Iran.

England can enjoy every second of stoppage-time, as they pass the ball around in midfield. Looks like they might be happy to settle for six.

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GOAL! England 6-1 Iran | Jack Grealish 89′

GREALISH GETS IN ON THE ACT!

Bellingham with a brilliant ball through to Wilson and he’s clean through on goal. So unselfish though, rolls it to Grealish instead and he has the simplest of finishes.

What a start to the World Cup for England!

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88′Iran seem to be pressing more now than they have at any point in the match.

Suits England though, plenty of space out there. Grealish drifting around and getting fouled, as ever.

84′Rashford has been really impressive since coming on, so sharp. This time the shot is blocked as the bodies come flying in. Foden tries to scoop the ball through to Wilson, it’s turned behind for a corner.

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Shaw swings it in, Wilson and Stones go up at the back post but a free-kick to Iran is given.

82′Long stoppage for an injury, which Grealish isn’t thrilled about. He wants the chance to make an impact.

Bellingham with a loose pass as he tries to pick out Trippier – think that’s his first of the match.

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77′Wilson will get his moment, as Kane is brought off. Newcastle man will fancy his chances of getting on the scoresheet here.

Taremi is in behind Dier, lashes the shot wide though. Sliced that one, rather than the clean connection we saw for the goal.

74′ Well Iran had a good couple of minutes, but it’s back to as we were now. And there a few England players out there desperate to make an impression.

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Bellingham brought down with a very ugly challenge – he’s so quick to pounce on any sort of heavy touch.

GOAL! England 5-1 Iran | Marcus Rashford 71′

RASHFORD NEEDS A MATTER OF SECONDS!

That’s absolutely brilliant. In space inside the box, chops inside onto his left foot and just rolls it into the bottom corner. So composed, his first touches after coming on. Decent impact.

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Phil Foden and Harry Kane celebrate Marcus Rashford's goal - England's fifth

Phil Foden and Harry Kane celebrate Marcus Rashford’s goal – England’s fifth / Matthias Hangst/GettyImages

70′England down to ten for now, despite the subs waiting on the touchline. Ball went out but the fourth official clearly wasn’t ready.

Iran starting to enjoy themselves a bit, first shot is blocked and then blazed over the bar. Pickford furious with the referee that his side can’t make the changes.

Now here they come. Dier, Rashford, Grealish and Foden on. Maguire, Saka, Sterling and Mount the four to make way.

68′ England were planning some changes before that goal, and they’re going to make them. Wilson was going to come on, but that’s been changed as Maguire is done after taking a blow to the head.

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He doesn’t look too well, so he’ll be coming off. Dier coming on in his place. Foden and Rashford also set to come on.

GOAL! England 4-1 Iran | Mehdi Taremi 65′

Iran get a goal back!

One down, three to go. Slid through to Taremi, runs in behind Maguire and he slams the finish past Pickford and off the underside of the bar. Wonderful strike.

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GOAL! England 4-0 Iran | Bukayo Saka 62′

SAKA AT THE DOUBLE!

Sensational from the Arsenal man. Sterling feeds it to him and he drives into the box on his left foot. Takes his time, shifts it inside and fires it low into the back of the net, with the help of a slight deflection.

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka celebrates his second goal / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

61′ Ezatolahi picks the ball up 35 yards out, brings it forward and decides he’ll try his luck. Would be wise not to do that again, dragged wide and just about has enough power on it to trickle behind for a goal-kick.

59′Lots of space out there for England, just need to get the final ball right and there will be more goals.

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Saka inside to Sterling, he tries to find Mount to his left but it’s cut out. Still no sign of any changes from Southgate, as we enter the final 30 minutes.

56′ mins: Lovely one-two between Kane and Sterling, the Chelsea forward briefly looks to be in on goal.

Tries to cut inside onto his right foot, Hosseini gets across to cover though and Iran survive. Guess what? England corner.

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Shaw with the out-swinger… Mount penalised for jumping over his man. Bit harsh.

54′mins: Brilliant from Bellingham… again. Skips to the byline, so strong and he cuts it back into the box. Turned behind for a corner.

Trippier in, palmed up from than out by the goalkeeper. Rice looks to drill it back into the box, it will be another England corner.

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52′mins: Trippier the latest to get caught with a late challenge, Maguire kicks it out with the right-back staying down.

Only concern now for England is injuries, with Iran evidently in a frustrated mood. Might encourage Southgate to make a couple of changes sooner than he originally planned.

51′mins: Painful one for the England captain, ankle rolled as the Iran player slid in. Back up on his feet now, looks to be moving fine.

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Back to the free-kick, Trippier standing over it. Hammered straight into the wall. Dreadful.

49′Yellow card is out, Kane brought down just over 20 yards out. Pouraliganji with a poor challenge, Kane down holding his ankle.

Physio is on – this is really not what England need.

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47′mins: Pickford very casual on the ball, his kick is almost charged down. First thing he’s had to do really.

Iran have already had a few passes since the restart, feels like more than they managed in the entire first 45 minutes. Or rather 59 minutes.

Back underway for Second Half

Up and running again for the second-half. No changes at the break from England, three from Iran.

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Imagine it will very much be damage limitation for them from this point onwards, although that was sort of the gameplan from the start.

England 3-0 Iran Half-Time

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45’+9 –This has been a really impressive first half showing from England. They have dominated the ball, looked bright in transitions and have most importantly taken their chances. Gareth Southgate will be very pleased.

45′ –14 minutes of added time – most likely a record but not wholly unsurprising.

45′ – GOAL!Barely time to draw breath and England have a third! Iran are caught on the counter, Bellingham finds Harry Kane down the right flank and his cross into the middle is expertly steered home by Sterling! Three and easy for the Three Lions.

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43′ – GOAL!It’s double delight for England and this time it’s Saka! Maguire wins another header from a corner, and this time nods it back into the danger area. Arsenal man Saka is waiting and he rifles an effort into the top corner!

36′– Bellingham becomes the second England teenager to score at a World Cup. The other? Michael Owen in 1998. Some company.

34′ – GOAL!It’s been coming for England! More crisp passing, this time down the left flank, presents Luke Shaw with the opportunity to whip the ball in. He does so perfectly and the late arriving Jude Bellingham scores his first goal for the Three Lions – a perfectly weighted header into the corner.

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Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has his first England goal / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

31′ – POST! –England warming to their task and Harry Maguire hits the woodwork from a corner. It’s a delicious delivery from Kieran Trippier and the Manchester United man rattles the post with a powerful header. Iran get away with one.

29′ – CHANCE!Good interplay between Raheem Sterling and Buyako Saka presents Mason Mount with a decent opportunity, but he can only fire wide and into the side-netting. Should have done better.

27′ –It’s definitely a game plan of Iran’s to break up England’s rhythm with niggly fouls. Only one booking so far but England may feel it should be more.

25′ –Over halfway through the first half but 10 minutes of that (at least) was spent treating Beiranvand. England bright on the ball but no real openings of note yet. As for Iran, they have the first yellow card of the game – Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the book for a pretty robust foul on Luke Shaw.

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17′ –No surprise, Beiranvand slumps to his knees again and will now be carried off. He’s obviously concussed and will be replaced by Hossein Hosseini – a player Iran really don’t seem to want to bring on.

14′ –Seven minutes of treatment and Beiranvand is unbelievably carrying on. His nose is almost certainly broken and he can barely stand – player safety again put on the back burner.

7′ –A really nasty clash of heads there.Reallynasty. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand takes a whack full in the face and it looks like he’s concussed. Shouldn’t be carrying on if due protocol is followed.

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4′ –A bright start by England and surely a foul on Harry Maguire from an in-swinging corner? Not the case, according to the 7-strong VAR panel.

Confirmed lineups

England (4-3-3):Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Mount; Saka, Kane (c), Sterling

Iran (4-5-1):Beyranvand, Moharrami, Cheshmi, Hosseini, Mohammadi; Jahanbakhsh, Noorollahi, Pouraliganji, Hajisafi, Karimi; Taremi

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