Sport

England 6-2 Iran: Dream start to World Cup for Gareth Southgate

England made a dream start to their World Cup campaign as they beat Iran 6-2.

Three goals in the first half set the tone with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling finding the back of the net.

Saka doubled his haul in the 62nd minute before substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish got in on the action, with two Mehdi Taremi goals failing to dampen the Three Lions’ spirits.

Bellingham’s first international goal came in the 30th minute from a glancing header into the top corner.

Saka doubled the lead in the 40th minute with a wondrous strike into the top corner.

And Sterling made it 3-0, during a length injury-time spell due to a head injury to Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand, with a tight finish from close range from Kane’s pass.

After the break Saka continued with another calm finish from the edge of the box following a great move from Sterling.

Taremi pulled one back minutes later with a shot which rattled in off the crossbar.

Seconds after coming off the bench Rashford made it 5-1 after beating his defender and calmly firing home with his left foot.

Grealish pounced for a sixth goal for England, with Taremi making it 6-2 in the final minute from the spot after a VAR check.

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