England vs Iran World Cup 2022 Live Updates: England are the favourites to finish top of Group B but Iran are determined to finally reach the knockout stage at a World Cup.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off. England vs Iran, Group B, FIFA World Cup 2022 Live Scorecard: England flew off the blocks in their first World Cup group match against Iran, taking a 3-0 lead at half time. Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling put England on the front foot as Iran had a setback early on after their first choice goalkeeper had to be stretchered off after a collision with an England forward.
There was a lot of pressure on Southgate coming into the World Cup, after poor form, and an extra-cautious system failed to get the right results, despite having a very talented set of attacking players. Today, the England manager has given his players more freedom and by sacrificing a defender to play both Mount and Bellingham in attacking positions, it allowed for creating overloads and breaking down a usually capable Iranian defensive unit. In just one half, England’s less conservative approach is showing an effectiveness that the team has not shown all year. Will it last throughout the tournament?
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England have a lot to live up to in their opening match against Iran after reaching the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and the EURO 2020 final, but Gareth Southgate’s side has failed to win a single game in their last six matches. England were unbeaten in their campaign to qualify for Qatar while their total of 39 goals is their highest tally in a single World Cup qualifying campaign.
England (4-3-3): Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Mount; Saka, Kane (c), Sterling
Iran (4-3-3): Beiranvand, Moharrami, Hajsafi, Mohammadi, Jahanbakhsh, Pouraliganji, Taremi, Cheshmi, Karimi, Hosseini, Nourollahi.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
ENG vs IRA: (45′) Top tennis player and talented runner, Bukayo Saka shines on World Cup debut
He’s a straight-A student, a top tennis player and a talented runner. And now, he is a World Cup goalscorer.
Seeing Bukayo Saka celebrate with his teammates after scoring England’s second goal against Iran in their opening World Cup match against Iran, one couldn’t help but go back to the last time he played a major tournament for England.
In the 2020 European Championship final against Italy, Saka, then 19, took England’s fifth and final kick in the shootout. His shot was saved by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma meaning that England lost the final and Saka was reduced the tears.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
What followed was a barrage of racist abuse, mostly online, towards him, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, all who failed to score in the shoot-out.
A few days later, describing how he was “hurting so much”, Saka promised he would “not let that moment or the negativity that I’ve received this week break me”.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
In a rare foray into public affairs, he also told Instagram, Twitter and Facebook that “it is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages”.
Born to Nigerian parents Yomi, a building surveyor, and Nike, a chartered accountant, in Ealing, Saka and his older brother Yomi played in the back garden and that’s where he spent most of time, taking steps that would see him play for England in the biggest of stages.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
As a child, he would go to school every day and recite a prayer, according to Sunday Times.
“Heavenly Father, you have given this new day to me, help me to make it one that pleases you by doing my best in everything. Amen.”
His prayers have been answered. And so have the prayers of England fans.
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
England vs Iran FIFA World Cup 2022 Score: ENG look to press with advantage against IRA as 2nd half kicks off
