England 6-2 Iran
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog for the second World Cup group stage game.
Given that they are one of the pre-tournament favourites, England will be looking to lay down a marker today.
They will be heavily fancied both to beat Iran and top their group.
However, Carlos Queiroz has a reputation for making teams difficult to beat and England aren’t coming into this game in the best of form, having gone six matches without a win.
So it could be a tricky encounter for the Three Lions against opponents who are likely to set out to frustrate and put 11 men behind the ball.
Kick-off is at 1pm Irish time.
The BBC pundits are discussing the controversial Fifa decision to ban countries from wearing the ‘One Love’ armbands.
Alan Shearer believes it is “unfair” on the players to put themselves in a tricky position on the day of the game, while Rio Ferdinand believes the various federations need to be “stronger” in combatting the wishes of Giovanni Infantino and co.
Here’s the England starting XI…
Your #ThreeLions to take on Iran! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/uU7SA2TAJB
— England (@England) November 21, 2022
Here’s a look at how Iran line out.
🇮🇷 Iran Starting XI vs England #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YOEabNsIWj
— That's Football! (@ThatsFootballTV) November 21, 2022
A reminder of this game’s political backdrop…
Message to the @England football team at the #WorldCup for the game v Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 on Monday. We think it would be amazing if you did this. It would mean more than you could ever imagine. pic.twitter.com/SHtz8oB9IJ
— Omid Djalili (@omid9) November 19, 2022
Alex Scott is wearing a OneLove armband while reporting on England's World Cup game in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/bHDWqGRFzY
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 21, 2022
England are preparing to face Iran in the Khalifa Stadium, where Briton Zac Cox, a construction worker, fell to his death, age 40, in January 2017, in what an inquest later found were "downright dangerous" conditions. 1/n
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) November 21, 2022
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Liam Brady is not convinced England will prevail at this tournament.
'I think these players are going to fail'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Liam Brady doesn't think this will be England's year in the World Cup#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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We’re underway…
England have started on the front foot as expected.
A corner is played in and both Maguire and Stones go down in the area, but the referee ignores England’s protests.
So far, England have dominated possession as expected.
They create their first decent chance, as Kane crosses for Maguire, but the defender can’t quite connect properly with the ball and turns it wide.
There’s then a long stoppage as goalkeeper Beyranvand receives attention, as he collided with his own player while attempting to gather the cross.
Breaking: Iran national football club stand mournfully and refuse to sing national anthem of clerical regime during first match against England at World Cup 2022 in act of protest against Khamenei henchmen’s violence pic.twitter.com/qPmX2hdMKP
— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) November 21, 2022
Beyranvand was initially deemed okay to continue, but he goes down again moments later.
The substitute goalkeeper Hosseini will come on in his place for his seventh cap.
The substitution is finally made after a lengthy delay.
You’d imagine there’ll be about 10 minutes of first-half stoppage time as a result of that extended halt in play.
It continues to be a very slow, stop-start contest.
Iran had a rare foray into English territory moments ago, but couldn’t make the most out of a free kick from a promising position on the left.
Meanwhile, Jahanbakhsh has just been booked for a late challenge on Shaw — not the first aggressive tackle from Iran today.
Kane finds Saka, but the Arsenal star’s finish is tame and Hosseini gathers easily.
That’s a nice comfortable start for the substitute goalkeeper.
Close!
Saka links up well with Sterling on the right.
The Arsenal’s star’s low cross finds Mount, whose first-time finish from a tight angle hits the side netting.
England come the closest yet to scoing.
Trippier floats a corner in and Maguire’s header comes back off the crossbar.
Set pieces were England’s greatest weapon at the last World Cup and the same could be the case in Qatar.
ENGLAND 1-0 IRAN (BELLINGHAM 35)
England lead and it’s a brilliant moment for 19-year-old Jude Bellingham.
Shaw produces a perfect cross and the Borussia Dortmund midfielder steers a well-executed header into the corner of the net.
That goal has been coming and it’s hard to see a way back for Iran from this point.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
GOAL - England - Bellingham 35'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
A lovely header from Bellingham has England ahead against Iran#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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ENGLAND 2-0 IRAN (SAKA 43)
ENGLAND 3-0 IRAN (STERLING 45)
Two goals in quick succession for England to effectively end the match as a contest.
Firstly Shaw’s corner is headed down by Maguire and Saka produces a superb finish from the edge of the area.
Moments later, England counter at speed. Kane crosses for Sterling, who makes no mistake, volleying home from close range.
I would say Iran will be relieved to see the half-time whistle.
However, on account of that lengthy stoppage, 14 minutes will be added on to compound Carlos Queiroz side’s misery.
Here’s a look at the second and third goals…
GOAL - England - Saka 43'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Saka will a lovely finish to double England's lead#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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GOAL - England - Sterling 45(+1)'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Sterling finishes from close range to surely wrap up the points already for England#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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This game has been fairly uneventful since the third goal.
You’d imagine England may take it easy from here while Iran will be happy to keep the score down.
As I type, however, Hajisafi crosses for Jahanbakhsh, but the winger’s shot goes well over the bar.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 3-0 IRAN
Half-time and it’s so far, so good from an English perspective.
Gareth Southgate’s side simply look far too good for a sub-par Iranian outfit who have offered little resistance.
Some of the more inexperienced players — Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka — have been among the most impressive performers. You could argue that neither were seen as guaranteed starters in recent times, but it will be hard to drop them based on today’s performance.
It’s really only a question of how many for England now, and Gareth Southgate will probably look to rest certain players in the second half by bringing them off early.
It’s not been a good start to the tournament for Asian sides, with a likely comprehensive defeat for Iran coming off the back of a similarly convincing loss suffered by hosts Qatar yesterday.
The second half is underway.
There’s a nervy moment early on for Pickford, as his clearance is blocked down by an Iran player but it deflects away to safety.
Worrying moment for England as Harry Kane goes down injured following a late challenge by Pouraliganji, who gets booked.
The Tottenham star has a knock on the ankle, but it doesn’t look too bad.
He may be taken off as a precaution anyway.
Kane looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
Trippier is also the victim of a late tackle but the injury again doesn’t appear too serious.
Lovely link-up play between Kane and Sterling allows the latter to sprint through on goal.
However, Hosseini does well to get back and make a good recovery challenge to deny the Chelsea star.
The second half has unsurprisingly been a damp squib.
With the game already decided, there is no real tension in the match.
England’s players just need to try to avoid injuries now.
ENGLAND 4-0 IRAN (SAKA 62)
It’s 4-0 and it’s all too easy for Saka.
Sterling plays it to the Arsenal star, who finds space on the edge of the area having been afforded plenty of time and space, enabling him to produce another fine finish to consolidate England’s advantage.
ENGLAND 4-1 IRAN (TAREMI 65)
Gholizadeh plays an incisive through pass to Taremi.
The 30-year-old Porto striker escapes the attention of Maguiren and scores with a brilliant first-time finish off the crossbar and in.
Maguire appeared to take a knock in the build-up to that goal and has to come off.
Tottenham’s Eric Dier will come on in his place.
England make four substitutions in total
Saka, Maguire, Mount and Sterling are off.
Dier, Foden, Rashford and Grealish are on
ENGLAND 5-1 IRAN (RASHFORD 72)
Kane does well in the build-up, controlling a long ball and setting up Rashford.
The Manchester United forward, fresh off the bench, shows good composure to slot home, but again, he is given all the space in the world.
England make another change.
Harry Kane hasn’t scored, but he’s played quite well.
Southgate realises the need to wrap him up in cotton wool ahead of future games, so Callum Wilson comes on in his place.
Here’s a look at all the second-half goals so far…
GOAL - England - 62'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Saka takes full advantage of the space to push England further ahead#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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GOAL - Iran - Taremi 65'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Iran get one back as Taremi smashes it in off the underside of the crossbar#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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GOAL - England - Rashford 71'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Marcus Rashford gets in on the scoring act to restore England's four-goal advantage#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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England are playing with a real swagger now.
The game has an exhibition feel at this stage.
Iran have never gotten out of the group stages of a World Cup, and they don’t look likely to reverse that trend based on today’s performance.
ENGLAND 6-1 IRAN (GREALISH 89)
England get a sixth late on.
The impressive Bellingham plays a well-weighted through pass for Wilson.
The Newcastle star could go for goal himself, but instead, unselfishly lays it on a plate for Grealish who converts it into the empty net.
We’re set for another lengthy period of stoppage time.
10 minutes will be added on.
This surely must be among the longest World Cup group games in history.
Here’s a look at goal number six…
GOAL - England - Grealish 90
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Wilson lays it on a plate for Grealish, who duly makes it six#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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Iran nearly get another consolation.
Azmoun is played through on goal as he evades the challenge on Stones, but Pickford gets the slightest of touches on his finish and it comes back off the crossbar.
Penalty for Iran.
After a VAR check, Stones is punished for a jersey pull on Pouraliganji.
ENGLAND 6-2 IRAN (TAREMI 90 + 11)
Taremi sends Pickford the wrong way from the spot for a late, late goal.
That’s his 30th goal for 60 international appearances.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 6-2 IRAN
So that’s that.
England made their superiority count against a limited Iran team.
Based on that performance, they deserve to be considered among the favourites.
Saka, Kane, Bellingham and Sterling were among the players to impress.
There were a few worries — Maguire going off injured was one, while the defence in general looked a little ropey at times, as illustrated by the fact they conceded twice against an Iran side that offered little in attack.
Overall though, Southgate will be happy with their opening performance and will be now hoping they can seal a place in the knockout stages with a game to spare by beating USA in their next game on Friday.
Here’s a look at the game’s last goal…
GOAL - Iran - Taremi 90(+13)'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 21, 2022
Taremi slots home the penalty which was awarded with the help of VAR#ENGIRN #FifaWorldCup #RTESoccer
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Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
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