England disorient Iran

England 6-2 Iran

Goals: Bellingham (35^e), Saka (43^e) and (62^e), Sterling (45^e+1), Rashford (72^e), Grealish (89^e) for England // Taremi (65^e), (90^e+13, sp) for Iran

The first England-Iran in World Cup history will inevitably be remembered. Sportingly, a little, England having directly assumed its status as pretender to the throne by sweeping a team from Iran outdated in all areas of the game (6-2). Politically, especially, because if Harry Kane could not wear his rainbow armband, the English all knelt down at kick-off. Their Iranian counterparts, criticized by their own for “their lack of courage” and “their complacency” displayed in recent days towards the regime of Ebrahim Raïsi, remained silent during the anthem, then, in a circle, raised their arms to the sky under the cheers of their supporters. If Emmanuel Macron was in front of beIN Sport, he could see that sport was more than ever a political game.

The English ride

When the ball finally begins to roll, the Iranian vuvuzelas roar, but on the meadow, it is the Three Lions who make their law. Following a free kick quickly played by Kieran Trippier, Harry Kane delivers a fine cross for Harry Maguire at the far post which misses the target. The game is then stopped for a quarter of an hour, following the KO on the action of the Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. He was subsequently forced to leave his place, to the great displeasure of Carlo Queiroz, and to the benefit of Hossein Hosseini. Number 24 is not very heated, but it won’t help anyway. Because England starts to accelerate and will crush Iran in a quarter of an hour. A header from a corner by Harry Maguire which ends on the crossbar is the first alert.

Then on a nice movement on the left side, Luke Shaw delivers a delicious cross to Jude Bellingham who opens the scoring (1-0, 35^e). The Iranian lock has jumped, the English go on boarding: on a new corner, Maguire put back for Bukayo Saka who sends a shot from the left inward bar (2-0, 43^e). At the edge of the fourteen minutes of additional time, consecutive to the injury of Beiranvand, Kane sends a perfect cross to Raheem Sterling who shoots Hosseini (3-0, 45^e+1). At the break, England is in demonstration and already almost safe.

“Football is coming home”

Queiroz is obliged to change something for the second act, and his triple change attests to this. Still no Sardar Azmoun, not completely recovered from a calf injury and who will finally enter fifteen minutes from time, but Iran are more offensive. Discovers himself more, too, and Saka takes the opportunity to offer himself a solo double (4-0, 62^e). to pride, Team Melli saves the honor with a magnificent re-entrant strike from Mehdi Taremi (4-1, 65^e).

Jordan Pickford throws a tantrum, Gareth Southgate decides to bring in Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden in quick succession to refuel. The effect is immediate: served once again by Kane, altruistic as possible, Rashford goes there with his goal on his first ball with a flat left foot (5-1, 72^e). At the end of the game, on the counter, Callum Wilson offers Jack Grealish the task of planting the sixth pawn of the Lions (6-1, 89^e). The ten minutes of added time sees England fans intoning “Football is coming home” Azmoun find Pickford’s bar and Taremi offer himself a double from the penalty spot after added time (6-2, 90^e+13). Result of the races: the English are there, and the world is aware.

England (4-2-3-1): Pickford – Trippier, Stones, Maguire (Dier, 68^e), Shaw-Rice, Bellingham-Saka (Foden, 71^e), Mount (Grealish, 72^e), Sterling (Rashford, 72^e) – Kane (Wilson, 75^e). Coach : Gareth Southgate.

Iran (4-3-3): Beiranvand (Hosseini, 19^e) – Moharrami, Cheshmi (Kanaani, 46^e), Mohammadi (Torabi, 63^e), Hosseini – Hajisafi, Karimi (Ezatolahi, 46^e), Nurollahi – Jahanbakhsh (Gholidazeh, 46^e), Taremi, Pouralinganji. Coach : Carlos Queiroz.

By Andrea Chazy, at the Khalifa International Stadium