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
Scythe
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:34 PM
Comment #81I would have preferred for Wilson to score and then run past Grealish with his shirt lifted up revealing a ‘That Was For You Miggy’ t-shirt underneath.
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:36 PM
Comment #82So far people are saying every game has been poor with the possible exception of England’s. There are always poor games at WC. I didnt get many peoples take on yesterday’s game in particular. Ecuador first half was good then they just relaxed as they knew Qatar could not hurt them.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:36 PM
Comment #83Apparently we have the hardest group as all 4 teams are in top 20! That is crazy. The Toon would splat all 3 teams in this group. FIFA rankings OOT! Probably England as well.
Munster Mag
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:37 PM
Comment #84Jeez with two mags on the team I’m gonna start cheering for England!
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:37 PM
Comment #85Check – I heard them say multiple times that the stadium was about three quarters full for the Dutch game. Not sure what commentary you were reading or listening to.
Me watching Eric Dier play a few times would just mean I have an opinion on whether he’d been playing well or not. Frankly, it’s really not saying much when a fan has an opinion on watching a couple of Spurs games. I’ve read stats on centre backs in the Premier League and read views of experts whose jobs are to watch every Premier League game and use their experience to pass their own commentary.
I’d respect a consensus of experts over one non-expert every day of the week. Of course if the non-expert has some genuine evidence to contradict the majority view, I’d listen but if that evidence is “I’ve watched a few Spurs games this season” or “my mate who supports Spurs says” then I couldn’t give a stuff. Fans are emotional and fickle, I’m just going of the facts and what experts say.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:42 PM
Comment #86lol, George Weah greatest player not to play in World Cup. Commentator rowed back on that and mentioned Best and Di Stefano
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:43 PM
Comment #87TTT the dutch game was decent
Toonarmy of Frogs
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:46 PM
Comment #88Wales struggling tonight
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:55 PM
Comment #89To be fair Pug that was exactly my point, poeple say all the games are rubbish but they aren’t. Admittedly I only saw bits of the Dutch game as I but what I saw looked decent.
TDS they did say that. How accurate that was is open to debate. What I have consistently noticed in all games so far though is that empty seats seem to be in the posh areas. Real fans have showed up to every game and stayed is my initial observation.
I would love to see accurate counts of fans there though, all the stadiums are only 40-60k so should not be hard to fill.
check the toastie
Nov 21, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Comment #90TDS – the point was, you are happy to base your opinion off ‘experts’ rather than gather information yourself.
Just wish i was that trusting, seen as though most experts have conflicting views in any field.
So you basically just listen to the experts that have the same opinion that suits your general view. Strengthening a viewpoint that suits what you are programmed to think.
Try not to have an opinion on anything for 24 hours. Might enlighten the mind.
The only opinions worth anything are those without opinion…
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:13 PM
Comment #91Jeezus ctt,
I bet those poor buggers in Milford Haven wished you were on a submarine as well 😕
Munster Mag
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:16 PM
Comment #92If iwas English I deffo wudnt cheer the other home countries because none of them cheer for you , to be fair.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:17 PM
Comment #93Anyway, cracking result today by a team somehow ranked 20th in the world. Never looked in danger and hopefully a couple of lessons learned from being caught on the break. Lovely unselfish play from Wilson which will put him in a great light in the managers eyes and we might see him get the full game against Wales should we beat USA. All round good day
Not another deJong
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:22 PM
Comment #94Wales are a bit sh#t
Munster Mag
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:23 PM
Comment #95The bits I saw ye looked good Jail. Bellingham is a monster. I mentioned Carlton Palmer earlier. Bit of an upgrade!
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:24 PM
Comment #96Munster,
Do you not fancy a holiday in Guantanamo Bay while this world cup is on, I’ve a feeling you’re going to be a right royal pain in the ar$e!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Comment #97Munster, that is why everyone loves the Engilsh… give or take.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:26 PM
Comment #98Ha ha, sorry Munster, very poor timing there 😀
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:26 PM
Comment #99WE know Scots, Wales and all of the Island of of Ireland like to see us lose, but we still support them all.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:28 PM
Comment #100Did I hear right that was George Weah’s son?
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:31 PM
Comment #101Yes he is Raj
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:34 PM
Comment #102Jail, Yes
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:37 PM
Comment #103Check – well unless I watch every match Dier plays, plus compile my own stats on passes made, headers, distance run etc. then what is my amateur opinion really worth??
What do you think I’m doing when I look at the stats of all English defenders in the Premier League this season? What do you think I’m doing when I read articles about various players? It’s called gathering information. Do you watch every Premier League game? You think someone has to watch every game a player plays in to have an opinion on a player? Watched many Bellingham games this season? Do you really watch 90 mins of Man Utd games to have a judgement on Maguire?
Smart people don’t do their own research, they look at the research that others have done, judge how seriously to take it, and then make up their own opinion.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:40 PM
Comment #104Check – the difference between you and me is that if I think a football player looks rubbish but several top managers think he’s good, I assume I am a bad judge of player as they know a lot more than me. You think you know more than them and they’re idiots.
Toonarmy of Frogs
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:40 PM
Comment #105Pen.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:41 PM
Comment #106perfect draw
Toonarmy of Frogs
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:42 PM
Comment #107Draws better for England TBF
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:47 PM
Comment #108The problem with Sons is some are better that their fathers at footy some are not.
Cruyff
Dalglish
Schmeichel
Haaland
Wright-Phillips
Ince
To name just a few. A mixed bag really.
As an aside we have in the last couple of months been linked with Tino’s Son (at Inter Milan) and Thurams Son Marcus (he has another son at some team too if I recall correctly)
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 21, 2022 at 8:53 PM
Comment #109Taco – ok, so those players you’ve mentioned have sons who aren’t as good as them. I’d just like to say that every player currently playing for our club is better than their father.
The Taco Taker
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:04 PM
Comment #110TDS, not all, I did put Haaland in there.
🙂
On NUFC you are correct but why the hell did we let Bobby Clark (Lee Clarks lad) go to Lpool?
Rhetorical question of course cos I know the answer.
Wor B
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:08 PM
Comment #111Oh Yedders!
Best ever toon right back, unable to rescue USA.
You’ve let the USA doon, you’ve let yersel doon, but worst of all you’ve let Kets doon!
😆
magicmac54
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:10 PM
Comment #112that was always going to be a difficult match. Gareth Bale and Ramsey are both done, apart from the penalty Bale done nothing in that match, Kieffer Moore changed the whole complexity of that game beyond doubt.
My pre match prediction
I 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.
magicmac54
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:16 PM
Comment #113The Taco Taker@108
Looking at your list Kasper Schmeichel had a very good career and no doubt his dad would have been proud of him mate.
magicmac54
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:21 PM
Comment #114I expect England to win all their games with ease in that group as they are light years ahead in quality to any of the teams in that group.
SirRhosis
Nov 21, 2022 at 9:39 PM
Comment #115Now, now Magic, don’t go putting the kiss of death on things!
🙂
The overrated Frenchman
Nov 22, 2022 at 9:03 AM
Comment #116Coady doesn’t get credit he deserves