World Cup: England tyros Bellingham and Saka shine as Three Lions thrash Iran 6-2 in opener

England midfielder Jude Bellingham (left) celebrates scoring his team's first goal in Doha on Nov 21, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
Football fans enjoying the live screening of the World Cup match between England and Iran at The Penny Black pub on Nov 21, 2022. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
England fans celebrating at The Penny Black pub, during the screening of the World Cup match between England and Iran, on Nov 21, 2022. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

DOHA – The Beatles would probably have never imagined their 1968 hit song Hey Jude being belted out by thousands in Qatar.

But that was the scene at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday, as England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 6-2 thumping of Iran.

Young starlets Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka stood out in a game which started with both sides making strong political statements.

Iran’s players stood stoic and silent during their national anthem, in apparent solidarity with anti-government protesters, who have taken to the streets of Teheran for the past two months following the death of a 22-year-old woman while in custody of the country’s morality police.

Their supporters, who made up the majority of the 45,334 inside the stadium, also whistled loudly as the anthem was being played, and roared after it ended.

England’s players, meanwhile, became the first at the World Cup to take a knee, a gesture against racism and inequality.

However, the brief act happened for a few seconds as the stadium announcer counted down the final 10 seconds before the game kicked off.

Hundreds of supporters reportedly missed the act due to a ticketing app issue.

Fifa said in a statement that it was working on the glitch, with only a handful of fans seen seeking assistance in obtaining tickets 15 minutes after kick-off.

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Sazali Abdul Aziz speaks to England and Iran supporters ahead of their first game at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

There was time for them to catch England’s first goal in the 35th minute by Bellingham, who was serenaded by English fans with their rendition of Hey Jude.

The 19-year-old was the youngest player on the pitch but underscored his special talent with a hand in half of England’s goals.

His presence in midfield – in place of more defensive-minded choices Jordan Henderson or Kalvin Phillips, who are both struggling for fitness – was also the spark that the England engine room had sorely been lacking.

Bellingham was the catalyst for England’s strong finish to the first half, when they scored three goals in just over 10 minutes.

After an obdurate opening period delayed by lengthy treatment on Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand – who suffered a head injury in the ninth minute but defied concussion protocols and refused to come off before being substituted in the 20th – England began to carve out chances.

Alireza Beiranvand (centre) and his teammate defender Majid Hosseini collide during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran. PHOTO: AFP

Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, ghosting into the box to meet left-back Luke Shaw’s cross with a glancing header that looped into the far corner.

It was his first international goal in his 18th appearance for his country, and made him England’s youngest World Cup goalscorer since Michael Owen in 1998.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who has been linked with a big-money move to Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United, did not let up.

Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand is stretchered off the pitch after being injured during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match between England and Iran on Nov 21, 2022. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Moments later, he was at his typical battling best at the byeline, preventing the ball from going out for a goalkick to the Iranians.

Not surprisingly, he earned praise from veteran right-back Kieran Trippier, who told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He is playing at such a high level and he is not afraid.

“He has got to keep his feet on the ground and keep performing at a high level like I know he will.”

Saka, another rising star, then doubled England’s lead with a fine volley that clipped the underside of the crossbar, before Bellingham’s drive created another goal.

After Saka was tugged back in the middle of the pitch, Bellingham galloped onto the scene to seize the ball for the advantage – before the referee blew for a free-kick – and charged forward, playing Harry Kane through with a deft flick.

Bukayo Saka (right) of England celebrates with teammates after scoring the 4-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match between England and Iran on Nov 21, 2022. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

England skipper Kane, 29, then sent in a glorious cross for Raheem Sterling to finish with aplomb to send his team 3-0 up at the break.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who later admitted that the game was over at half-time, made a triple substitution after the interval, hoping for a change in fortunes.

But the 21-year-old Saka added his second goal in the 62nd minute – thanks to a slight deflection off an Iranian shin.

Mehdi Taremi then pulled a goal back for the Iranians in the 65th minute.

But substitute Marcus Rashford made it 5-1 in the 71st minute after coming on for Saka.

Then it was Bellingham’s turn for another contribution, playing Callum Wilson through behind the Iranian defence to square the ball for Jack Grealish, who finished easily in the 89th minute.

Iran pulled another goal back through a Taremi penalty, which was awarded after a VAR (video assistant referee) check in a game that saw more than 24 minutes of added time at the end of both halves.

While he was pleased with the great start, England manager Gareth Southgate said they should not have conceded the two goals.

He told BBC Radio: “It’s a consequence of the score, we had 24 minutes of added time across the game and it is a long time to focus and we just lost concentration.”

England’s next Group B match is against the United States on Friday, when a win would almost certainly seal their progress to the round of 16.

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