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If winning Group B at the World Cup comes down to goal difference, England already has it in the bag after its extremely impressive 6-2 opening victory over an Iran side in disharmony.
Kick-off at Khalifa International Stadium was scheduled for 1 p.m. in the UK, but obviously that didn't stop England supporters from getting rowdy as hell on a Monday afternoon.
It took 35 minutes for England to get the party started through Jude Bellingham, but that lack of early action was largely down to Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand suffering a sickening clash of heads with a teammate before eventually being substituted with a concussion.
Bellingham is one-half of an excellent England holding midfield alongside Declan Rice in Gareth Southgate's 4-2-3-1, and it's the 19-year-old who enjoys getting forward to upset the numbers and cause chaos in the opponent's half. He did that to perfection on England's opener, ghosting into the box and glancing a header off Luke Shaw's feed.
ENGLAND TAKES THE LEAD
On the biggest stage Jude Bellingham scores his first goal for England pic.twitter.com/4TOWEHaMmQ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
They loved that one back home.
Fans are going CRAZY in England ‼️
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
England's second arrived only eight minutes later with Bukayo Saka lacing one into the top corner on the half-volley.
SAKA MAKES IT 2-0
The young players are coming through in a BIG way for @England pic.twitter.com/L17Adzrbk2— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Iran just needed halftime at this point, but Raheem Sterling added a third in first-half stoppage time.
RAHEEM STERLING@england makes it THREE in the first half
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Back in England, fans could start to relax and celebrate.
England fans went WILD after that Sterling goal #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/9IF3XrLYgM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Three became four in the 62nd after Saka got his brace.
SAKA DOES IT AGAIN@England takes a 4-0 lead pic.twitter.com/dbhxDfWQVU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Iran pulled one back minutes later through Mehdi Taremi. This was an extremely satisfying finish.
There it is!
Iran earns its first goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/Dltlt3KpEV— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Marcus Rashford restored England's four-goal lead in the 71st.
Too easy for Marcus Rashford @England scores its FIFTH goal of the match pic.twitter.com/OKVpmx6Yj2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Jack Grealish made it 6-1 in the 89th after an unselfish feed from Callum Wilson.
SIX GOALS FOR ENGLAND
Jack Grealish earns his first FIFA World Cup goal pic.twitter.com/hUJtEbaS2J— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Iran got a strange VAR-assisted penalty call at the death for the final score of 6-2.
After a late penalty is called, Iran adds on another goal in the 103rd minute pic.twitter.com/hcgBFqvsKP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 21, 2022
Is it coming home? At this point, all we know for sure is that Iran's going home.
