England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start as Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham powered to a 6-2 win over Group B champions Iran on Monday in Doha.
Saka and Bellingham were England’s driving force with impressive displays that went down as two of the game’s brightest stars.
Bellingham, 19, dashed Iran’s hopes of upsetting England when he rose to score his first international goal in the first half. The goal made Bellingham England’s youngest World Cup goalscorer since Michael Owen in 1998 and the first player born in 2000 or later to feature in the final.
Gareth Southgate’s side were in fine form at the Khalifa International Stadium and goals from Saka and Raheem Sterling put them in control before half time.
Saka, 21, also fired long-range and, despite Mehdi Taremi’s two strikes for Iran, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish completed the haul.
There will be a fierce test for England as they bid to win their first tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
But it was a fitting welcome for Southgate, whose side arrived in Qatar on a six-match unbeaten run that sparked fierce criticism of the Three Lions boss and his poor tactics.
Southgate’s concern was seeing Harry Maguire substituted in the second half after being checked for a head injury.
England play their second match against the United States on Friday and finish their Group B match against Wales on November 29.
