THE PISTOLS
Never mind the FIFA b ***** ks, excited Southgate hails his goal-mad young guns but warns there will be tougher tests ahead
GARETH SOUTHGATE hailed his six-shooters as England opened their World Cup campaign in style.
Teenager Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, 21, starred as the Three Lions thrashed Iran but Southgate admitted he was “fed up” after conceding twice.
The England boss said: “It is a great marker to put down. We have some good players and we really delivered. Our defence controlled the game, the midfield were excellent, and our forwards looked a threat. We looked ready.”
Bellingham, just 19, became England’s second-youngest goalscorer in a tournament, behind Michael Owen, when he headed home the opener.
Saka netted a double and he was joined on the scoresheet by
Raheem Sterling plus substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.
The one disappointment for Southgate was conceding two goals and he admitted England will have to step up a gear in their meeting with the United States on Friday.
He said: “I’m a bit fed up with the end of it.
“To win by that margin and play the way we did for the majority of the game, we have to be really happy. But we should not be conceding two goals at that stage in the game. We will have to be right on our game against the USA. It is a great start but we have to be better. There are things we need to do better if we are going to progress to the latter stages.
“I’m a miserable so-and-so. I should be more excited but I have to keep the team on the right track.”
Rashford scored with his first contribution after coming on as a sub. Like Saka, he missed a penalty in the Euros final shoot-out against Italy a year ago, but he went on social media to say: “Words can’t express my happiness in scoring at the World Cup.”
Harry Maguire (right) had to be replaced 20 minutes from time but Southgate said he was just feeling sick, and he also said skipper Harry Kane did not have a problem, even though he was limping after the match.
Kane took to the field without his rainbow One Love armband after FIFA banned the gesture.