KEIR RADNEDGE in DOHA: England, hungry for a win after six blanks, opened their World Cup campaign against Iran in stunning and, to be fair, unexpected style by storming to a 6-2 victory.

Three first-half goals in Group B in the Khalifa International Stadium from the masterful Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling was a perfect resumption of normal service after relegation from the top group of the UEFA Nations League.

In the second half Saka again and substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish outstripped two Iranian goals for Mehdi Taremi, one from a last-kick penalty.

England manager Gareth Southgate had come under heavy pressure lately for the first time in his six-year reign and was well aware that opening matches are delicate affairs. In 2018 England beat Tunisia with only a stoppage-time set-piece goal from Harry Kane; at last year’s Euro they struggled to beat Croatia 1-0. Each time they progressed to the decisive closing stages.

Southgate, who set aside his preference for a three-man back line and went orthodox with four, would have been happy with such a repeat, never mind such a warning shot across the bows of all the other major contenders. England were quick on the ball, composed, cohesive and, ultimately, deadly.

Politics, of course, had to role in the preliminaries. England, forced to concede the armband issue by FIFA, took the knee before kickoff while Iran’s players, troubled by escalating violence back home, bravely refused to sing their national anthem. Whether their fans were whistling them or the anthem was not clear.

Penalty claim

Formalities over, so to the football with England immediately claiming a penalty in vain after Rouzbeh Cheshmi rugby-tackled Harry Maguire, pursuing a corner.

When Brazilian referee Raphael Claus did halt play minutes later it for attention to Iran keeper Alireza Beyranvand and defender Majid Hosseini who head-butted each other in trying to clear a right-wing cross.

Beyranvand needed extensive treatment on the pitch then foolishly tried to play on before collapsing. He was carried off on a stretcher and belatedly substituted. Since his replacement was deemed as due to suspected concussion – never mind his broken nose – this meant Iran still had their full option of five subs.

Once again the World Cup had highlighted football’s inadequate approach to concussion. Beyranvand should have been replaced immediately.

England, unfazed, continued to pour on the pressure. Maguire planted a Kieran Trippier corner against the bar before Bellingham headed them in front from Luke Shaw’s left-wing cross in the 35th minute.

Bellingham command

Eight more minutes and Saka thumped home No2 after Maguire nodded down a left-wing corner. Iran protested in vain that Maguire had leaned on their defender but, if so, it was payback for the penalty they escaped in the opening minutes.

England rammed home their command in the first of the 15 minutes of stoppage time when Bellingham won possession in midfield, setting Kane free on the right to cross for Sterling to strike a third goal.

Sterling later provided the assist so Saka could step across the mesmerised Iranian defence to score England’s fourth and his own second just after the hour. The Arsenal winger had been outstanding, apart from his goals. This was an impressive response to the vile abuse he had suffered after missing a penalty in the Euro showdown Italy last year.

Iran, spiritedly, responded with a first goal of their own Mehdi Taremi before England rang the changes by introducing four substitutes. Immediately one of them, Marcus Rashford, ran away free on the right to make it 5-1.

Time remained for Jack Grealish to score a delightful goal with a substitute’s flourish before Taremi struck a second for Iran with a last-kick penalty awarded for pushing in the goalmouth.

Southgate will doubtless be irritated at England’s failure to keep a clean sheet but satisfied to have negotiated so deftly what had promised to be an awkward start.

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