England started on the right foot with a 6-2 win over Iran in their opening match of the World Cup. Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham opened the onslaught with a header in the 35th minute before Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling added clinical strikes to make it 3-0 before the break.
In the second half, Saka added his second before Iran brought one back through Mehdi Taremi minutes later in the 65th minute. Marcus Rashford continued the route with a deft left-footed strike in the 71st minute to make it 5-1.
Then Callum Wilson made his entrance for his 5th cap. The striker made an impact as he was freed down the right. Rather than go for glory, the unselfish Wilson pulled the ball back for fellow substitute Jack Grealish to tap it in to make it 6-1.
Iran added another consolation goal with Taremi converting a penalty after a strange VAR decision in added time to make the final outcome 6-2. Kieran Trippier played the entire match with Wilson getting a good 20 minutes and an assist after coming on for Harry Kane.
Next up for England is the USA on Friday. The Americans get their tournament underway against Wales later today. One thing to monitor is Kieran Trippier’s recovery from today’s extended outing. There was a whopping 24 minutes of extra time across both halves in today’s match.
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116 comments so far
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:22 PM
Comment #41Check – you mean I relied on a piece of information supplied by the BBC? Yes, that’s exactly what I did, which is why I’m frustrated with the quality of the BBC these days. I know it was a comment during a live football match rather than a lengthy article on a serious topic but I still dislike it. It’s a bloody big difference repeating an erroneous fact on a sporting topic from a fairly reliable source compared to repeating an erroneous fact on a serious topic from a heavily dubious source (i.e. random Twitter or YouTube account) don’t you think?
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:23 PM
Comment #42Check – and it wasn’t an opinion, it was an erroneous fact.
martoon
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:24 PM
Comment #43Something I’ve discovered with FIFA Fantasy site is if you click on a player it shows you their points but if you want to see how they were acquired you have to click on fixtures and then view points and then it shows you the details of the points – a bit long winded!!
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:29 PM
Comment #44The dumb thing is TDS that I decided to check simply cos it didn’t look like there were many empty seats, and first thing I find is the capacity of the stadium which correlated to the number of spectators announced as the attendance – 45K so it was basically full. If the commentator simply looked at the stadium vs what he was say he would know he was wrong.
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:32 PM
Comment #45Martoon, Nice tip that, I wondered where you could find that. Crappy way of doing it though as you say. FPL works much better than this rubbish.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:34 PM
Comment #46Taco – I was multitasking so I didn’t even notice that but it’s shoddy that the commentator, whose sole job was watching and commenting on the match, just spouted that and didn’t question it. Also shocking research before the match too. I remember the days of John Motson and his ilk who would be very diligent in their research before a match.
Toon fans bad
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:35 PM
Comment #47I hope all the folk who have spent their hard earned on going to Qatar manage to enjoy the experience. I’m seriously thinking about a WC2026 trip. Canada, Mexico and the States. That really has potential to be epic.
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:40 PM
Comment #48TDS – and bizarrely the Dutch game capacity has just been given as full.
When its a third empty.
Trust no-one. Your Repeated nonsense about Eric Dier playing well for Spurs this year when you personally haven’t watched a minute of him is worrying. Is this the standard for basing an opinion.
Basically others? Take an average and go with that?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:42 PM
Comment #49apparently, the official attendance is 1500 more than capacity for the Dutch game! commentators stating “creative accounting” as stadium only 2/3 full. Ally McCoist said “I need that accountant” lol
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:43 PM
Comment #50Why is everyone eating Pugs?
Worse they even put Smudger the cat on the menu!
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:44 PM
Comment #51Dog eating crew oot
Toon fans bad
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:45 PM
Comment #52Aye, definitely found it a very poor website to navigate that Fifaplay thingy. It feels like they’ve overcomplicated it. Probably cost them millions to make it user unfriendly, maybe Qatar made it as they do seem to run FIFA nowadays 😆
Harley
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:47 PM
Comment #53A great win today against a team ranked higher than Serbia, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and Austria.
The usual Southgate moaners will find something to complain about, but we picked up our joint best World cup result ever.
I’m so pleased Wilson got on, but gobsmacked he didn’t go for goal. And of all the players he could have set up…..
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 5:55 PM
Comment #54I moan about Southgate, but credit to him today to try and score some goals. Even when we were winning he was making positive substitutions, very unlike him.
Maybe he knows its his last chance to prove himself as an adaptable coach. He needs a job after this competition after all. So needs to prove he can have a team playing progressive football.
I see him at a PL team soon. We shud make 1/4s as comp is shite. Probably gunna meet Senegal or Ecuador in last 16. Poor.
WLtoon
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:01 PM
Comment #55This game has been so poor, and apparently being witnessed by a bigger crowd than the stadium can hold, and with that the Dutch score their second.
Seems to be lots of extra minutes being added in the games for no obvious reason to me.
WLtoon
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:05 PM
Comment #56Would love to see Wales have a decent WC after over 60 years of not qualifying, , cant see them beating USA though, Ramsey and Bale are past it, and they are probably their best players
magicmac54
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:06 PM
Comment #57I expect this next USA v Wales game to be a very close affair I’ll sit on the fence and go for a 1-1 Draw.
Novocastrian66
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:12 PM
Comment #58I hope Wales get thrashed.
Harley
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:20 PM
Comment #59I also hope Wales get a good thrashing!! They hate us with a passion.
AncientC
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:33 PM
Comment #60The Bookies have the U.S. as favourites to win. Suits me — my money is on Wales.
Novocastrian66
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:34 PM
Comment #61I used to get behind all the home nations when not playing England however the anti English sentiments from the other nations sticks in the claw.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:46 PM
Comment #62I can’t help myself. I will support Scotland, Wales, NI and Eire …. as long as they are not playing us!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:47 PM
Comment #63Bookies rarely get it wrong but I think (hope) Wales win, although a draw is perfect for us.
Pottsclock
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:49 PM
Comment #64The official attendance figure for the Senegal- Netherlands match was higher than the actual stadium capacity, and there were clearly many spaces in the stadium.
I suspect something fishy is going on to try and sell this WC as a great success…
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:50 PM
Comment #65Artemis rocket to the Moon is smaller than that WC centre piece!
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:50 PM
Comment #66I have a 5 quid bet with a mate on USA to beat Wales. I have a feeling USA will get out of this group along with England.
Wor B
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:56 PM
Comment #67My nana was from Milford Haven, lived in Northumberland for over 70 years, never lost her lovely South Wales lilt.
Come on Wales!
Vask
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:58 PM
Comment #68That’s how you sing a national anthem.
Reminded me of Italy at last year’s euros.
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 6:59 PM
Comment #69Wor B – Milford Haven – spent years down there as a young tech on the refinery
Utterly miserable.
Cleddeu Bridge Hotel it was called
The soulless place i digged in for months by myself. Its a wonder i survived.
Might as well have been on a submarine for six months. Miserable winter that was.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Comment #70Welsh fans belted that out!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:04 PM
Comment #71How does that happen? WC game, one of these two will get through and the ref? A young, inexperienced Qatari ref. What happened to the best of the best for refs?
Wor B
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:13 PM
Comment #72check
I reckon it was even worse in the 1910s, probably why she married and moved North with my Royal Navy grandad after the Great War.
IrishRob
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:14 PM
Comment #73Passing that ball instead of taking the shot even at 5-1 up could prove to be a very important move by Wilson. Things like that could be the difference when Southgate needs to bring somone on in an important match.
For the fact they were cruising and he still decided to ve unselfish
IrishRob
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:16 PM
Comment #74Be unselfish will really sway Southgate if he needs to make a call imo.
If he had took the shot on and missed it wouldn’t have looked good at all. Fair play to him for using his head.
Scythe
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:17 PM
Comment #75Forgot the next World Cup is going to be over here. I’ll definitely get myself along to a game or two if they’re playing in New York or maybe at the New England Revolution stadium in Massachusetts. Not bothered who’s playing, I’ll just wear my Toon shirt and enjoy the atmosphere 😀
Scythe
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:20 PM
Comment #76Just seen that New York/New Jersey and Boston have been chosen as venues so maybe I’ll catch a game with NY Mag in 2026?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:29 PM
Comment #77if we can’t beat these 2 teams….time to go home. They need help to tie their shoelaces
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Comment #78very poor game
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Comment #7999 Luft Ballons
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:31 PM
Comment #80Good point Irish, Wilson made the better decision there. Would have been amusing if Grealish skied it over the bar though. I am sure Wilson, Pope and Trips would have been taking the piss out of grealish in private had that occurred.