England made a scintillating start to their World Cup campaign as Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham inspired a 6-2 rout of outclassed Iran in Monday’s Group B opener in Doha.
Saka and Bellingham were England’s driving forces with dynamic displays that underlined their emergence as two of the game’s brightest young stars.
Bellingham, 19, shattered Iran’s hopes of frustrating England when he rose to head his maiden senior international goal in the first half.
Gareth Southgate’s side were in sparkling form at the Khalifa International Stadium and goals from Saka and Raheem Sterling put them in complete control before half-time.
Saka, 21, netted again after the interval and, although Mehdi Taremi struck twice for Iran, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish completed the demolition.
There will be far sterner tests to come for England as they bid to win their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
But this was a welcome step in the right direction for Southgate, whose team arrived in Qatar on a six-match winless run that triggered scathing criticism of the Three Lions boss and his perceived negative tactics.
The only concern for Southgate was the sight of Harry Maguire being replaced in the second half after being checked for a potential head injury.
England play their second match against the United States on Friday and conclude their Group B fixtures against Wales on November 29.
MATCH ENDS, ENGLAND 6, IR IRAN 2.
90’+14’end 2
Second Half ends, England 6, IR Iran 2.
90’+13’penalty goal
Goal! England 6, IR Iran 2. Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
90’+10’contentious referee decisions
VAR Decision: Penalty IR Iran.
90’+10’penalty lost
Penalty conceded by John Stones (England) after a foul in the penalty area.
90’+10’penalty won
Penalty IR Iran. Morteza Pouraliganji draws a foul in the penalty area.
90’+9’free kick lost
Foul by Phil Foden (England).
90’+9’free kick won
Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90’+8’attempt saved
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.
90’+7’free kick lost
Foul by Marcus Rashford (England).
90’+7’free kick won
Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+7’free kick won
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+7’free kick lost
Foul by Morteza Pouraliganji (IR Iran).
90’+4’free kick won
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+4’free kick lost
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (IR Iran).