England beats Iran 6-2 in a dominant opening World Cup game

At the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday Bukayo Saka scored twice as England opened their World Cup campaign with a 6-2 victory over Iran.

Saka, whose penalty miss in last year’s Euro 2020 final proved pivotal, scored a beautiful volley to help Gareth Southgate’s team take a 3-0 lead into halftime. He then scored twice after the break.

Jude Bellingham set the tone with his first international goal, while Raheem Sterling added England’s third after Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beyranvand sustained a severe head injury early in the match.

Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish reacted as the Three Lions sent a message to their Group B rivals despite Mehdi Taremi’s late penalty-kick double.

Harry Maguire was a pest in the opponent’s penalty area and was denied a penalty kick before hitting the crossbar with a header in the 32nd minute.

Three minutes later, Bellingham redirected Luke Shaw’s hanging cross into the upper right corner with a beautiful looping header.

As Iran struggled to hold the Three Lions, Maguire headed a corner kick into the path of Saka, who unleashed a powerful volley into the top-right corner to increase England’s lead.

In first-half stoppage time, Southgate’s rampaging team made it 3-0 when Sterling deftly deflected in Harry Kane’s right-wing cross.

Saka completed his brace by cutting inside and drilling a low shot past Iran substitute Hossein Hosseini. There was little hint of England slowing pace after the break.

Taremi’s goal off the crossbar denied England a clean sheet, but substitutes Rashford and Grealish scored composed goals as the Three Lions stretched their lead to 6-1.

John Stones fouled Taremi, according to a contentious VAR review, and Taremi scored from the penalty spot in the final seconds of stoppage time.