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 kicked off the day’s action against Iran, smashing them 6-2 in Group B, 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.

---

England got their World Cup off to a thrilling start as they walloped Iran 6-2 at Khalifa International Stadium.

Goals from Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling put England 3-0 up by half-time, before Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish finished off the scoring after the break. Porto striker Mehdi Taremi grabbed a brace for Iran, including an injury-time penalty conceded by John Stones from a set piece.

---

How did England do it?

The Three Lions looked bright and breezy early on although the game was disrupted by a serious head injury sustained by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. He was eventually replaced – after suffering what looked like concussion and a nasty broken nose – and Hossein Hosseini came on to make his World Cup debut.

He may have been wishing he’d stayed on the bench soon after, as England got into their stride. More crisp passing, this time down the left flank, presented Luke Shaw with the opportunity to whip the ball in. He did so perfectly and the late arriving Jude Bellingham scored his first goal for the Three Lions – a perfectly weighted header into the corner.

After Saka made it two, there was barely time to draw breath as England grabbed a third. Iran were caught on the counter, Bellingham found Harry Kane down the right flank and his cross into the middle was expertly steered home by Sterling.

A relatively quiet start to the second half was then brought to life by Saka’s second of the day, a deflected effort after good work from Sterling, before Iran grabbed a goal back through Taremi – the Porto sharpshooter running off the back of a concussed Harry Maguire to fire past Jordan Pickford.

Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish got in on the act for England before full-time, the former with some superb footwork, before Stones conceded a late penalty that Taremi converted with ease.

---

---

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