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Bukayo Saka scored twice as England made a flying start to their 2022 World Cup campaign by thrashing Iran 6-2 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
Saka – whose penalty miss proved decisive in the Euro 2020 final last year – netted a stunning volley to help Gareth Southgate’s side take a 3-0 lead into half-time, before he doubled up after the break.
With Iran crumbling after goalkeeper Alireza Beyranvand suffered a nasty head injury early on, Jude Bellingham set the tone by scoring his first international goal, while Raheem Sterling prodded home England’s third.
Mehdi Taremi denied England a clean sheet with a powerful finish, but substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish responded as the Three Lions sent out a message to their Group B rivals despite Taremi scoring a very late second from the penalty spot.
Harry Maguire was a nuisance in the opposition box and saw an early penalty appeal waved away before powering a header against the crossbar in the 32nd minute.
Three minutes later, Bellingham diverted Luke Shaw’s hanging cross into the top-right corner with a fine looping header.
With Iran struggling to contain the Three Lions, Maguire nodded a corner into the path of Saka to unleash a fierce volley into the top-right corner and double England’s lead.
Southgate’s rampant side then made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time when Sterling cutely diverted home Harry Kane’s right-wing cross.
There was no sign of England slowing down after the break, as Saka clinched his brace by cutting inside to drill a low finish beyond Iran substitute Hossein Hosseini.
Taremi denied England a clean sheet by firing in off the crossbar, but substitutes Rashford and Grealish produced composed finishes as the Three Lions extended their lead to 6-1.
There was one last piece of action when Taremi converted from the spot at the end of stoppage time after a VAR check contentiously ruled he was fouled by John Stones.
What does it mean? England off to a flyer
While England were the only team to reach at least the semi-finals at both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, many supporters were apprehensive regarding the Three Lions’ chances after they failed to win any of their first six competitive matches in 2022.
However, Southgate’s men could hardly have wished for a better start in Qatar as they put Iran to the sword, falling narrowly short of matching 2018’s 6-1 rout of Panama – which remains their most comprehensive World Cup win.
A fast start paid off for England as they hit the net three times in the opening half of a World Cup game for just the fourth time, having previously done so also against Poland in 1986, Denmark in 2002 and Panama in 2018.