England rout Iran in opener

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ngland’s quest for glory in Qatar got off to a dream start as Bukayo Saka’s brace helped Gareth Southgate’s men to a 6-2 victory against Iran in their World Cup opener.

Officials added a huge 27 minutes of injury time for VAR delays, a sickening clash of heads, a concussion test and eight goals after referee chief Pierluigi Collina vowed to tackle time-wasting.

Having reached the semifinals four years ago and finished as Euros runners-up last summer, the Three Lions arrived among the favourites despite a six-match winless run and Nations League relegation.

England ended that wait for a victory in style yesterday as Saka scored twice in his first major tournament appearance since missing his spot-kick in last year’s European Championship final defeat by Italy.

Marcus Rashford has not represented the national team at all since missing his attempt in that shootout and netted within minutes of coming on in a thumping win that Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish also scored in.

It was a remarkable way to start the tournament, with the Group B opener a night to savour for England.

There were 14 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half and 13 minutes at the end of the second half.

Teenager Bellingham expertly headed home his first international goal before Saka smashed home a fine strike complemented by Sterling.

Saka added another

before Mehdi Taremi scored for Iran, only for the Three Lions to add two more through substitutes Rashford and Grealish.

England were on course to match their biggest World Cup win, only for Taremi to score a last-gasp penalty.

The match started with Carlos Queiroz’s normally obdurate side escaping an early penalty as Rouzbeh Cheshmi wrestled Harry Maguire in the box.

More serious controversy would soon follow as Beiranvand was allowed to play on despite having been left groggy after clattering into team-mate Majid Hosseini.

Iran’s goalkeeper soon called to be taken off and eventually left on a stretcher, with Hossein Hosseini brought on as a concussion substitute.

The floodgates would open three minutes later. Smart, patient play ended with Luke Shaw sending in a great cross from the left that Bellingham headed past Iran’s statuesque back-up keeper.

The 19-year-old lapped up the moment after

England’s third youngest World Cup starter was assisted by the man second on the list.

Another goal followed in the 43rd minute when Maguire headed on a corner for Saka to thrash home a left-footed beauty.

England’s third followed two minutes later as Bellingham prodded wide to Harry Kane, who swung over a cross that Sterling turned home.

Iran made three changes after the break but were still struggling to stem the tide, leading to Morteza Pouraliganji’s desperate attempt to halt Kane. The skipper grimaced after the challenge but was able to continue.

Then man-of-the-match Saka scored his second in the 62nd minute.

A miskick from goalkeeper Hosseini was gobbled up by England and ended with the Arsenal star following quick feet with a low finish.

Iran scored a consolation three minutes later as Ali Gholizadeh managed to squeeze a ball through to Taremi, who showed his quality by lashing in off the underside of the bar.

Rashford was among those introduced and made an immediate impact, collecting Kane’s pass, cutting inside and coolly scoring.

Callum Wilson and Grealish were others brought on by Southgate, with the former teeing up the latter as England netted a sixth. Jordan Pickford brilliantly tipped a Sardar Azmoun strike on to the crossbar but would be beaten again in the 13th minute of second-half stoppage time.

Taremi scored a penalty awarded after the VAR advised the referee to review images of a shirt-tug in the box.

Jude Bellingham.