As someone who remembers the turgid goalless draw against Uruguay in the first group match of the 1966 World Cup, the opener of the 2022 tournament was an altogether different kettle of fish! "Surely we should beat Iran?" was the consensus of opinion, but in football, anything can happen, and us regular England watchers have seen it all. This time, however, it was almost all good news.

Right from the start England dominated possession with Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Mason Mount in command of the midfield, and feeding the ball forward at every opportunity. There was also fine support from Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier down the flanks, and that stretched Iran's defence to the limits. On three minutes the first of many Trippier crosses so nearly found Raheem Sterling until it was intercepted by a defender at the last moment. A few seconds later, how England were not awarded a penalty will remain a mystery for years to come.

Harry Maguire, up for a corner, was grappled to the ground by 5, using both hands in a grip that Jackie Pallo (who?) would have been proud of. It was so blatant that everyone saw it. A penalty? No, as the referee didn't give it and no-one felt the need to call in VAR. Nobody could understand the decision, but no matter, on with the game. England continued to press and Maguire was almost on the end of a fine cross by Harry Kane, alas his shot hit the side-netting. A few seconds later the Iran goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, punched clear, only for him to collide with a defender in a nasty collision. The keeper was obviously in real trouble and the game's protocol and common sense should have seen him substituted there and then. Instead we had a very prolonged stoppage, heightened by him going down again a few moments later, this time he finally had to go off. In the first 15 minutes of the game, only about six minutes were actual game time.

Not surprisingly both sides were unsettled by the injury and play was scrappy for a while. A shot by Bukayo Saka relieved the tension but it was an easy save for the new keeper, Hossein Hosseini. Then. on 30 minutes Saka centred to the near post and Mount so nearly scored, just steering his shot wide of the post. Two minutes later, Maguire, in attack again at a corner, and this time his header struck the corner of post and crossbar before being hacked clear. Was it going to be one of those days perhaps? We didn't have to wait long for the answer to that question.

On 35 minutes a fine cross from the left by Shaw, was met by a marauding Bellingham, and his looping header dropped into the net in the top corner. The Borussia Dortmund player thus joined Michael Owen as the second youngest World Cup goalscorer for England. The goal was also the trigger for better things from England. With two minutes of the 45 remaining, Saka scored another as Maguire, always in the action, headed down for Saka to rifle the ball home. The look of delight on the youngster's face said it all. Two minutes later, England were in dreamland. A fabulous cross from Kane from the right was met brilliantly by Sterling who volleyed the ball home with the outside of his foot. Good move, good cross and a great finish. The first half was up, or so we thought until the referee added on 14 minutes of time, mainly due to the goalkeeper's unfortunate injury.

The second-half started slowly and the first incident of any note was when Shaw had a shot blocked. Meanwhile, Bellingham was still the dominant figure in the match, however, on 62 minutes it was Saka again who showed his class. Sterling passed to him and Saka just glided past defenders before calmly slotting home a sublime finish.

You know England well though, don't you, and it was never going to be totally straight forward. On 65 minutes Iran pulled a goal back. Gholizadeh gained possession just outside the box, and fed a delightful pass into the path of their top striker, Medhi Taremi, and his first time shot gave Jordan Pickford no chance. The goal was taken with some aplomb, but Pickford was furious at losing his clean sheet. Just a lapse of concentration by England, and a message for the future perhaps.

With 20 minutes to go England made some substitutions. Maguire came off, after apparently feeling unwell, it was revealed later, whilst Saka, Sterling and Mount made way for Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish to grab a taste of World Cup action. Just a few moments later, manager Gareth Southgate was congratulating himself as Rashford scored with his first touch. Well, actually it was his third touch. Pickford's long clearance found Kane, who cleverly held off a defender before passing to Rashford. The striker controlled the ball with his first touch, cut inside a defender with his second touch, and calmly shot his goal with his third. A fine goal, which will do the youngster a power of good.

Southgate then rested Kane, replacing the skipper with Callum Wilson, and with a minute of normal time to go, a powerful tackle by Bellingham saw the ball fly into the path of Wilson, galloping at speed down the right. He ran hard to the byeline before pulling the ball back to Grealish, who had a simple task to score. What a delight that was, especially as the Manchester City player made a young lad from Manchester very happy by remembering to do the ‘wiggly worm' celebration especially for the ecstatic 12-year-old Finlay Fisher back home. A lovely touch.

Another 12 minutes were added on, making a mockery of the 90 minutes the game is supposed to last, making 26 minutes of added time all told! What is that all about, although in the early games being played all have had long added extras.

On 90+8 minutes, Pickford made a fine save from Sardar Azmoun, tipping the shot onto the bar and away, but there was still time for one last piece of action, and a rather controversial decision, remembering the Maguire penalty incident earlier. A cross came into the England box, and the usual jostling was going on, but suddenly and inexplicably, VAR was called in by the referee. An innocuous shirt pull by John Stones was spotted and a penalty was awarded. Taremi scored his second from the spot, and it was virtually the last kick of the match. An annoying end, but nothing could take away the overall satisfaction of the England performance and win.

Man of the Match? Bellingham or Saka, I'll let you decide.
  

Source Notes