Match ends, England 6, IR Iran 2.
England's Fifa World Cup campaign opened in thoroughly convincing fashion as they outclassed Iran in an incident-packed match in Doha.
Gareth Southgate's side strolled to victory, with Iran's hopeless plight made worse by the early loss of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand to concussion after a clash of heads with team-mate Majid Hosseini.
Jude Bellingham got England off the mark in this World Cup with a soaring header from Luke Shaw's cross 10 minutes before the break and the game was wrapped up before half-time thanks to Bukayo Saka's fine strike and Raheem Sterling's classy volley with the outside of his foot from Harry Kane's cross.
Saka got his second before Iran's supporters were given a moment of real delight when Mehdi Taremi scored a fine goal after 65 minutes - but England substitute Marcus Rashford then netted another smooth, composed strike with his first involvement.
To put the gloss on an incredibly dominant display, Jack Grealish slotted home from close range after a good run and pull back by Callum Wilson.
Iran did pull another back in injury time when Taremi slotted in a penalty after a John Stones foul.
The game was played out against the backdrop of more off-field controversy here in Qatar after England were forced to ditch plans to wear the OneLove armband promoting diversity and inclusivity under threat from Fifa of players being cautioned should they carry out the gesture of support.
- How England v Iran unfolded
- 'Saka's tale of redemption caps England's perfect day'
- Great marker but England must be better - Southgate
Bellingham & Saka show class
It is almost impossible to deliver any firm judgement on England's World Cup prospects given the paucity of Iran's opposition but this could hardly have gone better for Southgate as his one major selection decision reaped a rich dividend and the result was almost perfect.
Iran were expected to provide stern resistance as they reside in the top 20 in the Fifa rankings and have a recent victory against Uruguay on their record but England made light work of the task once Bellingham gave them the lead.
Bellingham is being touted as one of the big emerging names at this World Cup, the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star already a target for a host of the game's elite names.
And, even in the context of this game, Bellingham showed exactly why as he joined Saka as the dominant force in this game, scoring his first England goal with a magnificent header and bestriding midfield with a complete authority that belied his years.
This was only the second time England have scored six goals in a major tournament but on this evidence you would not bet against the brilliant Bellingham being involved the next time it happens.
Bellingham is a player with the world at his feet and a long career ahead of him at international level.
Southgate picked Saka ahead of Manchester City's Phil Foden, the only mildly contentious decision in his line-up, but there can be no arguments after a hugely impressive performance from the 21-year-old who has played such a big part as Arsenal head the Premier League.
Saka scored twice and was a threat throughout and thoroughly deserved the warm applause he received when he was substituted.
It will get harder for England as they now face the United States and Wales but this was the perfect start.
Iran outclassed but send message
Iran suffered the early setback of losing goalkeeper Beiranvand to suspected concussion but this was never going to change the course of the game give the chasm in class between the two teams.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz hinted at a bold approach beforehand but this was never going to be the case and once the game settled down following an opening 20 minutes littered with interruptions, this opening World Cup game was only going one way.
Iran's many fans had a moment of real joy when Taremi thumped home his finish but there was little else to celebrate in this game as their team took a heavy beating.
This was not a day without great significance, however, as both Iran's players and supporters used this global stage to make their feelings clear about the growing human rights protests against the ruling regime in their homeland.
The national anthem was shouted down by the supporters and none of the Iran players joined in.
Iran were heavily supported inside the Khalifa International Stadium and clearly regarded this as an ideal platform to make their grievances clear. The football itself gave them few moments to cheer but they were clearly determined to make this day count.
Player of the match
SakaBukayo Saka
England
Avg
-
Squad number17Player nameSakaAverage rating
8.23
-
Squad number22Player nameBellinghamAverage rating
8.21
-
Squad number11Player nameRashfordAverage rating
7.37
-
Squad number10Player nameSterlingAverage rating
6.90
-
Squad number12Player nameTrippierAverage rating
6.78
-
Squad number4Player nameRiceAverage rating
6.78
-
Squad number3Player nameShawAverage rating
6.71
-
Squad number24Player nameWilsonAverage rating
6.69
-
Squad number7Player nameGrealishAverage rating
6.57
-
Squad number9Player nameKaneAverage rating
6.56
-
Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
6.32
-
Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
6.27
-
Squad number6Player nameMaguireAverage rating
6.25
-
Squad number20Player nameFodenAverage rating
6.14
-
Squad number1Player namePickfordAverage rating
6.00
-
Squad number15Player nameDierAverage rating
5.87
Iran
Avg
-
Squad number9Player nameTaremiAverage rating
5.60
-
Squad number1Player nameBeyranvandAverage rating
4.39
-
Squad number5Player nameMohammadiAverage rating
4.32
-
Squad number3Player nameHajisafiAverage rating
4.30
-
Squad number18Player nameKarimiAverage rating
4.29
-
Squad number21Player nameNoorollahiAverage rating
4.28
-
Squad number7Player nameJahanbakhshAverage rating
4.28
-
Squad number19Player nameHosseiniAverage rating
4.24
-
Squad number24Player nameHosseiniAverage rating
4.23
-
Squad number2Player nameMoharramiAverage rating
4.18
-
Squad number8Player namePouraliganjiAverage rating
4.17
-
Squad number15Player nameCheshmiAverage rating
4.17
-
Squad number20Player nameAzmounAverage rating
4.12
-
Squad number17Player nameGholizadehAverage rating
4.11
-
Squad number16Player nameTorabiAverage rating
4.06
-
Squad number6Player nameEzatolahiAverage rating
4.03
-
Squad number13Player nameKananiAverage rating
4.02
Line-ups
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pickford
- 12Trippier
- 5Stones
- 6MaguireSubstituted forDierat 70'minutes
- 3Shaw
- 22Bellingham
- 4Rice
- 17SakaSubstituted forRashfordat 71'minutes
- 19MountSubstituted forFodenat 71'minutes
- 10SterlingSubstituted forGrealishat 71'minutes
- 9KaneSubstituted forWilsonat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 7Grealish
- 8Henderson
- 11Rashford
- 13Pope
- 14Phillips
- 15Dier
- 16Coady
- 18Alexander-Arnold
- 20Foden
- 21White
- 23Ramsdale
- 24Wilson
- 26Gallagher
Iran
Formation 5-4-1
- 1BeyranvandSubstituted forHosseiniat 20'minutes
- 2Moharrami
- 8PouraliganjiBooked at 48mins
- 15CheshmiSubstituted forKananiat 45'minutes
- 19Hosseini
- 5MohammadiSubstituted forTorabiat 63'minutes
- 7JahanbakhshBooked at 25minsSubstituted forGholizadehat 45'minutes
- 21NoorollahiSubstituted forAzmounat 77'minutes
- 18KarimiSubstituted forEzatolahiat 45'minutes
- 3Hajisafi
- 9Taremi
Substitutes
- 4Khalilzadeh
- 6Ezatolahi
- 10Ansarifard
- 11Amiri
- 12Niazmand
- 13Kanani
- 14Ghoddos
- 16Torabi
- 17Gholizadeh
- 20Azmoun
- 22Abedzadeh
- 23Rezaeian
- 24Hosseini
- 25Jalali
- Referee:
- Raphael Claus
- Attendance:
- 45,334
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home78%
- Away22%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away14
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, England 6, IR Iran 2.
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Post update
Goal! England 6, IR Iran 2. Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Post update
VAR Decision: Penalty IR Iran.
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Post update
Penalty conceded by John Stones (England) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Post update
Penalty IR Iran. Morteza Pouraliganji draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Post update
Foul by Phil Foden (England).
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Post update
Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Sardar Azmoun (IR Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mehdi Torabi with a through ball.
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Post update
Foul by Marcus Rashford (England).
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Post update
Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Morteza Pouraliganji (IR Iran).
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Post update
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (IR Iran).
-
Goal!
Goal! England 6, IR Iran 1. Jack Grealish (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Wilson.
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Post update
Offside, IR Iran. Hossein Hosseini tries a through ball, but Sardar Azmoun is caught offside.
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Post update
Offside, IR Iran. Hossein Hosseini tries a through ball, but Ali Gholizadeh is caught offside.
-
Post update
Foul by John Stones (England).
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Post update
Hossein Kanani (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Comments
Join the conversation
After all his headline grabbing and vows to wear an armband, all it took was the threat of a booking and Kane folded like a wet newspaper.
Don't you dare talk about morality ever again, you’ve shown your vows to be utterly worthless when it matters.
What a gent.
A proper team player.
Saka and Bellingham top drawer.
The defensive weaknesses are there for all to see though.
Failed ticket App
20,000 empty seats
Concussion Catastrophe
Is there no end to FIFA's incompetence?
Have to say in tighter games it is worrying that a rugby tackle isn't a pen and a small shirt pull is !
Double standards shown throughtout - but of course also expected
congrats England ,you can only beat the team your playing who cares if they rubbish
Too many teams qualify.