England started their World Cup run today with a 6-goal destruction of Iran (20th in the FIFA world rankings). I watched this glorious opening act from a pub in Manchester from a place of minimal expectations for the team’s performance. The most I thought we could achieve was a last-minute winner given our recent Nations League results and the form of many of the squad heading into the tournament.
Furthermore, Iran have always been a resolute defensive team who are difficult to break down. With the added motivation of providing a light for their countrymen/women to penetrate the darkness that has engulfed their nation, I thought they may even be capable of sneaking a win. Wow was I wrong, just remind me never to go into the predictions business.
England’s 6-2 win did nothing to flatter them at all as they ran Iran ragged from the moment the match restarted after it’s 14 minute first-half hiatus. That break was enforced as Iran’s goalkeeper, Ali Beiranvand, was treated for concussion after a harrowing collision with one of his centre backs in the process of making an excellent fingertip save from a searching cross. He was laid prone for a straight 10 minutes before he even sat up. The fact that he was allowed to retake his position between the sticks for a full 2 minutes after treatment before he collapsed to the turf and had to be stretched off is a disgrace. Particularly in the modern era when player welfare is meant to be held paramount.
Once the match was back underway England took proceedings by the scruff of its neck and never let go. The attacking play was fast and fluid, whilst other than a couple of incidents the defence was well marshalled too. Iran’s first goal came from one of those defensive lapses, but England’s defence takes no blame for the second. It came from one of the softest penalties ever given in the history of football. In the pub around me there was confusion, shock and bemusement when the call to go to VAR went up on the screen, let alone when it was given.
There was nothing to give in anything that was reviewed but still it was given. VAR was bought in to correct clear and obvious mistakes from the referee but using it for non-events like this, where there was nothing to count as questionable even under the highest quality magnifying glass. Use VAR properly or not at all please. See the Harry Maguire incident in the opening exchanges for a glaring example of when it should be used.
England’s brilliance throughout the rest of the match was awesome to watch. Even better news for our hopes of going far comes from the fact that their 6 goals were scored by 5 different players, which didn’t include Harry Kane. He did get two of the assists though as he showed that he’s not just a goal pony. He is truly an all-round player.
This match saw a plethora of confidence building firsts for this England team too, as Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish (introduced off the bench for the final 20 mins) all pocketed their first world cup goals. Sumptuous Saka did them all one better though with a brilliant, beautiful brace that made it impossible for Iran to take anything from the match. Oh, and Marcus Rashford scored with his third touch of the match as he made an immediate impact off the bench.
That impact off the bench that both Grealish and Rashford provided will be crucial to our chances in the knockout stages but in this match, it was Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka who stole centre stage. Everything the 19-year-old Bellingham tried turned to gold. From flicks round the corner to beat his man to searing through balls to set Saka free on the right wing he was everywhere.
The confidence and maturity this sensational teenager showed to pull the strings in midfield and conduct his teammates to where they needed to be was incredible. He was even the one to set England on their way to victory with the opening goal of the match, a gorgeous, looped header that gave the stand-in keeper no chance. In-fact most of England’s goals were exquisite examples of how to behave with the ball in the box. The first of Saka’s brace was the best of the lot though. He found the ball at his feet on the edge of the box, just left of centre before threading it through the gap between defender’s legs and keeper’s hands and into the top right postage stamp.
If we can keep up this level of performance throughout the rest of our matches, we really could go far. How far? on the basis of this match I could see us reaching the final and once we are there anything could happen. England really were that good today as they opened their World Cup account with a silky smooth, dominant performance that will give them immense confidence going forward.
Next up for us are the Americans, who managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory against Wales this evening. Congratulations to Wales on securing a point on their return to the World Cup after 64 years away, but nothing I saw in that match causes me any concern for England’s perfect record in the group stage.
I hope Wales join England in going through, but if they do it will be in 2nd place because, make no mistake, in this form there is no way in hell that England won’t top the group.
Tentatively I say, IT’S COMING HOME!!!!!
The Football tourist 