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| BBC Report FIFA Report | |||||||
| Event | 2022 FIFA World Cup World Cup Group B | ||||||
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| Date | Monday 21 November 2022 | ||||||
| Venue | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan | ||||||
| Player of the Match | Bukayo Saka | ||||||
| Referee | Raphael Claus (Brazil) | ||||||
| Attendance | 45,334 | ||||||
| Weather | 26 °C (79 °F) | ||||||
← England - Germany Iran - Senegal England - USA Iran - Wales → | |||||||
England v Iran was a match which took place at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday 21 November 2022.
Team News[]
England will be without midfielder James Maddison and defender Kyle Walker for Monday's game.
Maddison has yet to train in Qatar as he nurses a knee problem picked up playing for Leicester last weekend, while Walker is still working his way back to fitness after groin surgery.
Iran are hopeful Sardar Azmoun will be fit for their tournament opener. The Bayer Leverkusen forward has not played since suffering a calf injury at the start of October.
Match Report[]
England's World Cup campaign opened in thoroughly convincing fashion as they outclassed Iran in Doha.
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.
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 a team-mate.
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 Saka's fine strike and Raheem Sterling's classy volley with the outside of his foot from Harry Kane's cross.
Iran's supporters were given a moment of real delight when Mehdi Taremi scored a fine goal after 65 minutes but it only produced a ruthless response from England as Saka scored his second and substitute Marcus Rashford scored with his first involvement - both smooth, composed strikes.
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.
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.
Match[]
Details[]
| 21 November 2022 16:00 AST (UTC+3) |
England 
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6–2 |  Iran
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Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan Attendance: 45,334 Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil) |
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Bellingham  35'Saka 43', 62'Sterling 45+1'Rashford 71'Grealish 90'
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BBC Report FIFA Report |
Taremi 65', 103' (Pen)
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          England
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   Iran
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Match Stats[]
| Overall | England | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 6 | 2 |
| Total shots | 13 | 8 |
| Shots on target | 7 | 3 |
| Ball possession | 78% | 22% |
| Corner kicks | 8 | 0 |
| Fouls committed | 9 | 14 |
League table[]
| Team | Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 3 | Advance to knockout phase |
 Wales
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 United States
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Iran
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 |
See also[]
External links[]
| 2022 FIFA World Cup England Matches |
| Qualifying matches San Marino (h) · Albania (a) · Poland (h) · Hungary (a) · Andorra (h) · Poland (a) · Andorra (a) · Hungary (h) · Albania (h) · San Marino (a) Group Stage Iran · United States · Wales Knockout stage Senegal · France |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| Group A · Group B · Group C · Group D · Group E · Group F · Group G · Group H · Knockout stage · Final Other: Qualification · Bids · Broadcasting rights · Controversies (Garcia Report) · Officials · Opening ceremony · Seeding · Squads · Statistics · Match Schedule Official symbols: Al Rihla (ball) · "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" (song) · La'eeb (mascot) |
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Argentina v Croatia · Argentina v France · Croatia v Brazil · Croatia v Morocco · England v France · England v Iran · England v Senegal · England v United States · France v Denmark · France v Morocco · Morocco v Portugal · Netherlands vs Argentina · Qatar v Ecuador · Spain v Germany · Wales v England |