World Cup Day 2 – LIVE: England 3-0 Iran; Senegal vs Netherlands; Wales vs USA
Day two of the World Cup and it’s a huge one for fans of England, Iran, Senegal, Netherlands, Wales and the United States.
The 2022 edition of the most famous tournament in the world got underway on Sunday as Ecuador comfortably dispatched hosts Qatar 2-0, but all eyes are now focused on a fuller day of action and the introduction of two sides who have high hopes of going far.
Gareth Southgate’s England kick off the day’s action against Iran, hours before Wales get their first World Cup campaign in 64 years underway against Gregg Berhalter’s United States.
There’s also a first glimpse at the Netherlands, managed once again by the legendary Louis van Gaal, and Sadio Mane-less Senegal – the Lions of Teranga definitely now without their star man after a late injury picked up playing for Bayern Munich.
Live text
64′ – GOAL FOR IRAN!
61′ – ENGLAND HAVE FOUR! It’s been a relatively quiet opening to the second half but England now have a fourth goal. It’s a bad goal kick from Iran’s substitute keeper and Shaw heads the ball forward to Sterling. He gets clattered but not before releasing the ball to Saka, and the Arsenal winger jinks inside three players before firing a deflected effort home.
50′ – Huge worry for England as Harry Kane takes a nasty blow to his ankle. The Three Lions skipper may have rolled it in a tackle, which is never a good sign. He’s up on his feet but is wincing.
46′ – Three changes for Carlos Quieroz and Iran for the beginning of the second half – Saeid Ezatolahi, Hossein Kanaani and Ali Gholizadeh the players on.
HALF TIME – ENGLAND 3-0 IRAN – A dominant first half performance from England and this game is surely beyond Iran now. 82% possession and three goals really is a glorious start.
45’+9 – This has been a really impressive first half showing from England. They have dominated the ball, looked bright in transitions and have most importantly taken their chances. Gareth Southgate will be very pleased.
45′ – 14 minutes of added time – most likely a record but not wholly unsurprising.
45′ – GOAL – ENGLAND SCORE A THIRD! Barely time to draw breath and England have a third! Iran are caught on the counter, Bellingham finds Harry Kane down the right flank and his cross into the middle is expertly steered home by Sterling! Three and easy for the Three Lions.
43′ – GOAL – ENGLAND SCORE AGAIN! It’s double delight for England and this time it’s Saka! Maguire wins another header from a corner, and this time nods it back into the danger area. Arsenal man Saka is waiting and he rifles an effort into the top corner!
36′ – Bellingham becomes the second England teenager to score at a World Cup. The other? Michael Owen in 1998. Some company.
34′ GOAL – ENGLAND SCORE! It’s been coming for England! More crisp passing, this time down the left flank, presents Luke Shaw with the opportunity to whip the ball in. He does so perfectly and the late arriving Jude Bellingham scores his first goal for the Three Lions – a perfectly weighted header into the corner.
31′ – POST! – England warming to their task and Harry Maguire hits the woodwork from a corner. It’s a delicious delivery from Kieran Trippier and the Manchester United man rattles the post with a powerful header. Iran get away with one.
29′ – CHANCE! Good interplay between Raheem Sterling and Buyako Saka presents Mason Mount with a decent opportunity, but he can only fire wide and into the side-netting. Should have done better.
27′ – It’s definitely a game plan of Iran’s to break up England’s rhythm with niggly fouls. Only one booking so far but England may feel it should be more.
25′ – Over halfway through the first half but 10 minutes of that (at least) was spent treating Beiranvand. England bright on the ball but no real openings of note yet. As for Iran, they have the first yellow card of the game – Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the book for a pretty robust foul on Luke Shaw.
17′ – No surprise, Beiranvand slumps to his knees again and will now be carried off. He’s obviously concussed and will be replaced by Hossein Hosseini – a player Iran really don’t seem to want to bring on.
14′ – Seven minutes of treatment and Beiranvand is unbelievably carrying on. His nose is almost certainly broken and he can barely stand – player safety again put on the back burner.
7′ – A really nasty clash of heads there. Really nasty. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand takes a whack full in the face and it looks like he’s concussed. Shouldn’t be carrying on if due protocol is followed.
4′ – A bright start by England and surely a foul on Harry Maguire from an in-swinging corner? Not the case, according to the 7-strong VAR panel.
Confirmed lineups
England (4-3-3): Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Mount; Saka, Kane (c), Sterling
Iran (4-5-1): Beyranvand, Moharrami, Cheshmi, Hosseini, Mohammadi; Jahanbakhsh, Noorollahi, Pouraliganji, Hajisafi, Karimi; Taremi
Preview
England’s bid to end a 56-year wait for a second World Cup begins against Iran on Monday lunchtime.
In one of the most controversial tournaments since, well, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, England kick off their campaign against an Iranian side they would well be advised not to underestimate, especially as the Three Lions are known for starting slowly at tournaments.
Euro 2020 was evidence of that, on the goals front at least, but also showed England’s ability to play the situation (tournament style football) rather than be overwhelmed by the occasion.
Preview
The reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal face an in-form Netherlands side on Monday afternoon.
Aliou Cisse’s team followed up their first-ever continental triumph in February with a playoff victory against Egypt to secure World Cup qualification. However, Sadio Mane – the integral talisman that scored the decisive spot kick in both of those triumphs – will no longer take part after being ruled out through injury.
The Netherlands have fitness concerns of their own but come into their first World Cup since 2014 in excellent form. The Dutch are unbeaten in 15 matches since Louis van Gaal was appointed manager for the third time last year.
Prediction: Senegal 1-2 Netherlands
Preview
The United States face Wales on Monday evening in the second match of a competitive Group B.
No other group at the 2022 World Cup contains four nations ranked inside the top 20. Sandwiched between England (fifth) and Iran (20th), the United States (16th) and Wales (19th) are poised to meet for the second time in two years after a 2020 friendly which ended 0-0.
Here’s everything you need to know about this lofty clash.
Prediction: United States 1-2 Wales