By 
England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start on Monday, cruising to a 6-2 Group B victory over a shell-shocked Iran in a timely return to form for Gareth Southgate’s side.
England entered the tournament without a win in six games, but a dynamic first 45 minutes in which Jude Bellingham scored his first England goal, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead, and Raheem Sterling added a third set up a second-half stroll.
Saka’s second goal allowed England to ease off the gas, allowing Iran to equalise through Mehdi Taremi before substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish rounded out the scoring for England.
Although Iran’s Taremi scored from the penalty spot in the 13th minute of stoppage time, bringing the total time in both halves to an incredible 26 minutes, England’s work was done.
“We haven’t played the best coming into the tournament. There was a lot of talk and speculation about our form but we showed everyone how much quality we have and what we can do,” said Saka, whose last major tournament ended with him missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout.
Yet England manager Gareth Southgate was not getting carried away.
“I’m a miserable so and so, I should be more excited but I’ve got to keep the team on the right track and we will have to be better,” he said, grumbling about the two goals conceded.
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