England headed into the game as clear favourites, despite never having played Iran in a competitive match before.
Gareth Southgate opted for a four-back formation, forsaking his preferred five-back likely due to Kyle Walker not being fit enough to start yet.
Despite this, England still came away with the win on the day.
England dominated early on and should have had a penalty after Harry Maguire was tackled to the ground from a corner but VAR did not give it.
The Three Lions’ first real chance of the game came seven minutes in. Kieran Trippier played a free-kick short to Harry Kane who crossed to Harry Maguire but the centre-back could not direct the ball back across goal.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was injured in that move. He tried to stay on after being down for a long period but went down again minutes later before being subbed.
England were still able to create chances, though, with Bukayo Saka finding Mason Mount in the box but the midfielder put his effort wide. Harry Maguire then smashed a header off the crossbar 32 minutes in.
After coming close a few times, England got their goal after 34 minutes. Shaw crossed to Jude Bellingham who floated his header over the Iran keeper.
Southgate’s side continued to dominate after the opener and added a second 43 minutes in. Shaw crossed to Maguire who headed down to Saka before the Arsenal made smashed in from the edge of the box.
BUKAYO SAKA! 👊
England double their lead against Iran with a lovely strike from the Arsenal man 🎯
💻🖥📱 Watch on @BBCiPlayer, listen on @BBCSounds, get more on the @BBCSport app#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 21, 2022
And it took just another two minutes for England to add a third. Bellingham started a counter which saw Kane slip the ball to Raheem Sterling for his goal.
Sterling from Sterling 🔥
England are in dreamland after Raheem Sterling adds the third against Iran!
💻🖥📱 Watch on @BBCiPlayer, listen on @BBCSounds, get more on the @BBCSport app#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 21, 2022
Iran began the second 45 much better than the first but England still managed to score again. Sterling found Saka who cut inside and made it five.
England were unable to keep a clean sheet, however, as Iran pulled one back after 65 minutes through Mehdi Taremi.
But the Three Lions restored their four-goal lead after 71 minutes via substitute Marcus Rashford, who scored with his first three touches.
The final England goal of the match came after 89 minutes. Callum Wilson got in behind and squared it to Jack Grealish.
Iran pulled a goal back late in injury time after VAR gave a soft penalty despite not even looking at the Maguire foul in the first half which was much worse and that is how the tie finished.
📰 Table Of Contents
England player ratings
Jordan Pickford (5) – Had little to do all game and could not have done much about Iran’s first goal. Went the wrong way for the penalty.
Kieran Trippier (7.5) – Provided a solid attacking threat throughout the match via set-pieces and from crosses.
John Stones (6) – A quiet but competent display from the Manchester City centre-back.
Harry Maguire (8) – Started at LCB and looked very comfortable on the ball, bringing it out from deep to help start attacks. Was a serious threat from corners as well, providing the assist for England’s second. Taken off after 67 minutes with what appeared to be a concussion.
Luke Shaw (8) – Like Trippier, Shaw was a real threat for England, spending much of the game in Iran’s half and putting in a number of good crosses, including for Bellingham’s goal.
Declan Rice (7) – Rice controlled the tempo of the match very well, ending the game with a 97 per cent passing accuracy.
Jude Bellingham (9) – Scored the opener with a great header. Started the counter-attack for England’s third. A truly dominant display from the 19-year-old.
Bukayo Saka (9.5) – Was one of England’s brighter players in the first 45 and probably should have had an assist but Mason Mount put his chance wide. Scored England’s second with a stunning finish before adding their 4th 61 minutes in.
Mason Mount (5) – Should have done better with a chance 30 minutes in. Was the quietest of England’s starting attackers by some distance.
Raheem Sterling (8) – Showed great composure to score England’s third with the outside of his boot. Got the assist for Saka’s second.
Harry Kane (7) – Had a quiet first 45 but produced a good ball for Sterling’s goal and set up Rashford for the 5th.
Substitutes
Phil Foden (4)
Marcus Rashford (6)
Eric Dier (5)
Jack Grealish (6)
Callum Wilson (6)
Iran player ratings
Alireza Beiranvand (4)
Sadegh Moharrami (3)
Morteza Pouraliganji (3)
Rouzbeh Cheshmi (3)
Majid Hosseini (3)
Milad Mohammadi (4)
Ahmad Nourollahi (4)
Ali Karimi (3)
Ehsan Hajsafi (3)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (4)
Mehdi Taremi (6)
Substitutes
Seyed Hossein Hosseini (2)
Hossein Kanaani (3)
Ali Gholizadeh (5)
Saeid Ezatolahi (3)
Match reaction
Maguire asking for a penalty inside three minutes after being pulled down in the box. That’s surely a penalty especially with referees meeting players to clamp down on that kind of thing. #ENG #IRN #FIFAWorldCup
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) November 21, 2022
How is that not a penalty? 🤔#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 21, 2022
Terrible look I’m afraid for concussion protocols at the #FIFAWorldCup
The Iran GK should not have had any say in whether he stayed on the pitch, and it’s completely born out by the fact he’s now feeling awful and wants to come off a minute later. #ENGIRN
— Ben Ransom (@BenRansomSky) November 21, 2022
Hope Alireza Beranvand makes a full and speedy recovery #safehands ❤️🩹#WorldCup #ENGIRN 🧤
— David Seaman MBE ~ SafeHands (@thedavidseaman) November 21, 2022
🦁 Jude Bellingham is just the 𝑺𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑫 teenager, after Michael Owen, to score for England at a World Cup
🏴 1-0 🇮🇷#Qatar2022
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 21, 2022
19y 145d – Aged 19 years and 145 days, Jude #Bellingham is the third youngest England player to start at a World Cup after Michael Owen in 1998 (18y 198d) and Luke Shaw in 2014 (18y 347d). Debut. #ENGIRN #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mywS5N5Stp
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 21, 2022
Sensational goal from @BukayoSaka87. Gorgeous! @England 2 up with the combined age of the goal scorers – 40 years.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 21, 2022
Marcus Rashford scores his first World Cup goal. He now has 9 goals and 3 assists in all competitions for Manchester United and England this season.
Back with a bang. 💥 pic.twitter.com/Y3JP800P01
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 21, 2022
.@JackGrealish kept his promise to Finlay ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hea1H4f6cI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 21, 2022
