By Razeen Gutta
A Bukayo Saka brace helped the Three Lions to a 6-2 win over Iran in their Fifa World Cup opener at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
An eight-month winless streak was forgotten when Harry Kane led out the Euro 2020 finalists in Qatar; and Gareth Southgate’s side could not have asked for a better start to their campaign.
19-year-old Jude Bellingham got his first ever England goal, and on the global stage too, after being played in by Luke Shaw just after the half hour mark.
Saka and Raheem Sterling made it three before the break with England looking comfortable at half time.
At 60 minutes, Saka — who looked electric all game — got his second, combining with Sterling to make it 4-0.
The only cloud in England’s silver lining will be an injury picked up by Harry Maguire, who had to be withdrawn when Iran and Mehdi Taremi got their first goal of the tournament.
An array of fresh legs from Southgate included the introduction of Marcus Rashford — and the Manchester United man made an instant impact to score his first World Cup goal with his third touch of the tournament.
Jack Grealish then scored the sixth before Taremi converted a late Iran penalty to make it 6-2.
England next face USA and Wales who will face-off on Monday night football at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Pictured above: Bukayo Saka
Image source: @footballdaily
