Three Lions roar in World Cup opener

ENGLAND began their 2022 World Cup campaign with an empathic 6-2 victory over Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday, writes

Daniel Childs.

It is England’s biggest opening tournament win.

Goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish ensured Gareth Southgate got off to the perfect start in Qatar.

Two of the three Chelsea players selected for the Three Lions started as Mason Mount and Sterling were deployed on the left of a 4-3-3 formation that gave England a more attacking outlook against an Iran side who looked to sit deep and stifle England. Sterling scored the third to round off an emphatic first half, going on to assist Saka’s second after the interval.

Although Mount did not get on the scoresheet, his overall numbers from the game were still positive playing as an eight in a midfield trio with Declan Rice and Bellingham.

The Chelsea pair were involved in the build-up to Bellingham’s 35th-minute opener that set the dominant performance in motion.

Sterling netted his first World Cup goal, ending a 16-year wait for an English Chelsea player to do so – the last being Joe Cole’s outstanding volley against Sweden in 2006. The other Blues player taken to Qatar,

Conor Gallagher, was an unused substitute by Southgate.

Sterling played off the left wing and looked consistently influential, a position he has rarely played since making his move to Chelsea from Manchester City in July.

England play their second game on Friday evening against the USA at the Al Bayt Stadium.

JULIAN FINNEY/GETTY IMAGES Raheem Sterling (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring England’s third goal in the 6-2 win over Iran on Monday