England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start with an impressive 6-2 victory over Iran in Qatar.
Goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling put the Three Lions three goals up at the break before Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish all struck after half time, with Mehdi Taremi striking twice for Iran.
It marked the best-ever start to a World Cup group stage by England’s men, bettering their 3-1 victory over France in 1982.
Proceedings at the Khalifa International Stadium got off to a stuttering start, as Iran ‘keeper Alireza Beiranvand was forced off with injury following a clash of heads with Majid Hosseini after just seven minutes.
It came as a result of England’s best chance of the early stages, with Harry Kane whipping a dangerous cross which looked set for the head of Sterling before brave defending from Beiranvand.
The stoppage took much of the momentum from England’s early play, with little in the way of chances until the half hour mark, when Mason Mount fired a shot into the side netting after excellent work from Sterling and Saka.
Harry Maguire was the next to come close just two minutes later, cannoning a header off the bar from Kieran Trippier’s corner.
The Three Lions remained patient in the face of stubborn Iranian defending and got their breakthrough after 35 minutes, as Bellingham produced a terrific header to convert Luke Shaw’s cross into the top right corner.
It was two just seven minutes later as Maguire rose highest to meet a Trippier corner, nodding into the path of Saka who brilliantly thrashed home on the half-volley from just inside the box.
England were in full control by this stage and grabbed a third in the first of 14 additional minutes at the end of the first half. Bellingham picked up a loose ball in midfield and surged forward before feeding Kane, who crossed for Sterling to stab home at the near post with an excellent outside of the boot finish.
England started the second half as they ended the first, seeing nearly all of the ball but it took until just after the hour mark for the first clear-cut chance, and the fourth goal.
And it was Saka who grabbed his second of the game, after cutting inside from the right and teasing the defence before curling home a low shot from inside the box.
Iran then pulled one back minutes later, Taremi slamming home from close range following an excellent reverse pass from Ali Gholizadeh.
But England hit back with a fifth just five minutes later, with substitute Rashford finishing emphatically just under a minute after coming on after being set through on goal by Kane.
And there was still time for Grealish to get in on the act, knocking home into an empty net after fellow substitute Callum Wilson unselfishly squared across goal after being set free in behind.
Ten minutes of added time almost provided Iran with time for a second, but Jordan Pickford remained alert to tip Sardar Azmoun’s effort onto the bar.
Iran would not be denied, however, as Taremi converted from the spot in the 103rd-minute after John Stones had been penalised for a shirt pull in the box after a VAR review by the referee.
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