Kieran Trippier is in Gareth Southgate’s starting eleven, and gets front billing, as England get their World Cup started against Iran. Nick Pope and Callum Wilson are on the bench.
Your #ThreeLions to take on Iran! ? pic.twitter.com/uU7SA2TAJB
— England (@England) November 21, 2022
This is Trippier’s 38th cap for England as he gets the nod at right-back. The 32-year-old has been in top form for Newcastle this term with 17 appearances, 1 goal, and 4 assists across all competitions.
England are in Group B along with the United States and Wales, who play each other later today. In between the Group B matches, Senegal (without injured star Sadio Mane) face The Netherlands in the remaining Group A match.
Yesterday, the World Cup got underway as Ecuador soundly defeated hosts Qatar 2-0 through a brace by former West Ham and Everton forward Enner Valencia. The 33-year-old, who currently plays for Fenerbahce, tops the Turkish Super Lig with 13 goals.

134 comments so far
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:12 PM
Comment #1Taco time
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:13 PM
Comment #2Munster – Yer never know.
Other teams are no great shakes, only need our front line to fire.
At least this team has some balance.
Hope we do well, but it’s usually a tough watch.
Will revert to five at the back as soon as we play what’s perceived as a decent side
niafron
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Comment #3Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!
Confident?
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:16 PM
Comment #4Oui!
Goofy
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Comment #5If Qatar are trying to send a message to the world it’s not a good one.
How can you host one of the biggest events in the world and not bend a little to save face, they are only magnifying their medieval laws.
I just don’t get it. If you look back at some of the Asian countries when they held big events, like the Olympics etc, they did little things like taking Dog of their menus knowing it would only offend us Westerners. Qatar seem to expect everyone just to accept their laws and only focus on football, TBH I don’t agree with their laws but I know it’s a different culture but the rest of the world won’t see it that way, it’s already became a spectacle that is over shadowing the actial event.
Anyhoo.. enough of the rant, I just hope it doesn’t bite us on the @ss with Qatar being a neighbouring Country to Saudi Arabia.
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #6England team looks like the best 11 players from 2018
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #7Loving seeing Trippier start for England in the World Cup! Also, very happy seeing Bellingham get a start. I’m a little surprised Sterling has got the nod over Foden but suspect it must be due to better link up between him and Kane. They will likely be able to exchange positions. Surely Foden has the opportunity for big impact from the bench.
Not too surprised with the defensive selections either to be honest, the centre back partnership ahs a lot of experience playing together for England. Wish we had a John Terry sort to play alongside one of them though as they’re both prone to mistakes and like to play out from the back. Wish we had a top class player of Terry’s type..
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #8My favourite Qatar player is Jimi Hendrix
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:23 PM
Comment #9ZG – Hardly. Bellingham and Saka are great young selections alongside some good experience.
Not another deJong
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:24 PM
Comment #10Pre match comments by Jenas on 5Live were actually very sensible. We need to knock more than 4 goals past this lot and do not look back.
NY Mag
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:27 PM
Comment #11C’mon England!!!!!
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #12DeJong – experienced squad, so yes it looks to me like they want to make a statement and not screw up. Inexperienced lads will be a little nervous playing their first World Cup game so will be good to put a few goals past them and then blood a few of the less experienced players so they’re not as nervous for the next match.
Wor B
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #13Goofy
Aye, dog is off the menu, Budweiser is the official WC drink. Ew, sickly stuff.
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:34 PM
Comment #14I thought you could only get dog in chien-zen.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:34 PM
Comment #15Got a new TV licence so I’m all set to watch a few live football games now. 🙂
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:35 PM
Comment #16And the EastEnders omnibus 😉
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:37 PM
Comment #17I reckon I could eat a bit of grilled or fried dog as long as it was in spicy or satay style sauce. Half of us have already eaten horse meat before and many people accuse Chinese takeaways as being responsible for missing pet cats.
That should put the pug into hiding.
🙂
Ashingtoon62
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:39 PM
Comment #18Soothgate shouldn’t be miserable mind,he’s on £6m a fooking year….
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:40 PM
Comment #19Yeh, been to the far east a couple of times.
God knows what the meat is in some food places. Pug a sauce on it. Beautiful
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:41 PM
Comment #20Vask – thankfully I have avoided watching soap operas since I moved out of my parents’ house many years ago! My missus doesn’t watch them either so that’s rather good!
Ashingtoon62
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:41 PM
Comment #21Skybet are giving evens for “H” to score or assist….
Fill yer boots… 😀
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:41 PM
Comment #22Hope Bellingham bursts on the scene and really gives us some energy from the middle of the park.
Mason Mount needs to step up and link up play. Front 5 look canny. Not a fan of Rice but at least we have legs around him.
Cmon England
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:42 PM
Comment #23Pugwash sauce?
I thought that was exclusive to McDonalds milkshakes.
Ashingtoon62
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Comment #24Ooh Iv’e got six points for my Ecuador keeper… When did they play again? scratchingheed emoji…
Novocastrian66
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Comment #25TDS; Sterling is one of Southgate’s undroppables.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:44 PM
Comment #26I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have a problem eating dog if it was well prepared. Many of us eat pigs and apparently they are very intelligent and, as already pointed out, many of us (me included) have eaten horse too. I’ve also eaten kangaroo, octopus, and deer and they’re cute and/or smart too.
Eating free-range dogs seems more humane than battery farmed chicken anyway…
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:44 PM
Comment #27I’ve stuck the captaincy on Trips.
Mister Tuff
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:45 PM
Comment #28Boiled dog and fried cat………………………………OOT
Come on England.
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:45 PM
Comment #29Talking about Sterling
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:46 PM
Comment #30Novo – Sterling is a quality player with loads of experience too. Ok, not played well for Chelsea so far this season, albeit in different positions but he’s still a very good player.
You have to look at most of the teams that won international tournaments and they have quite a lot of experienced players in there with a few younger players to provide the pace and surprises.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Comment #31Very easy to hunt is dog TDSarf,
A little whistle and “here boy” and it’s in the bag and supper before you’ve even chosen your cutlery 🙂
Mister Tuff
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Comment #32Heel Rover – heel now jump into that pan of boiling water I’m a bit peckish.
Eating the dog ——- disgraceful behaviour.
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:50 PM
Comment #33Sounds like everyone’s FIFA ticket app is knackered in Qatar.
So loads of English fans cant get in.
World cup and FiFA gets worse. Amateurs
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:51 PM
Comment #34Coupled with the £175 a night refugee camp, this WC really is representing value for money.
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:52 PM
Comment #35Yeh, cant say i would condone eating a dog mind.
Mans best friend. Unsure a pet Chicken would keep yer warm if you collapsed in some bad weather.
Novocastrian66
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:53 PM
Comment #36TDS; I think he has become too predictable, keep him on his left foot and he is ineffective. He pops up with goals which generally sugar coat his overall performance. If the goals dry up he will be a passenger.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:54 PM
Comment #37So the blog leader board has me in number one spot on 18 points when I’ve only got 12. It’s a shambles.
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:57 PM
Comment #38Exactly TDS, I have had all the food you mention + rabbit, pigeon, suckling pig, veal, snails, frogs legs, ostrich, eels, etc etc.
I had tinned tuna in the early ’80’s too so probably had my fair share of dolphin.
NY Mag
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:58 PM
Comment #39Over the wall Kieran, c’mon son….over and out from me 🙂
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 12:59 PM
Comment #40Raj
I presume that means you greased the correct palms on the correct officials.