England got their World Cup campaign off to a flying start by beating Iran 6-2. Here are five things we learned…
Mason Mount slips up during ‘God Save the King’
England forward Mason Mount could be visibly seen singing ‘Queen’ rather than ‘King’ during the national anthem.
Most of his teammates seemed to remember though, and Harry Kane’s singing was picked up well by the pitch side microphone.
It is just the second time that the England team will have sung the new anthem since the Queen’s passing in September.
Concussion protocols not followed
Iran keeper Ali Beiranvand and Majid Hosseini heavily collided after eight minutes, when the keeper came out to clear the ball from a cross and clashed heads with his central defender in the process.
After over 10 minutes of stoppage, Beiranvand continued to play in the net – before eventually asking to be substituted just a few minutes later.
It seems here the protocols regarding concussion were sidestepped to keep Iran’s goalkeeper – one of four in the squad – on the pitch.
Similarly, in the second half Harry Maguire stayed on after receiving a heavy knock to the head before eventually being substituted a few minutes later.
It is unclear if this will become a common feature of the tournament ,or organisers will address this clear variance from the rules surrounding concussion protocols – which state a player should immediately be removed from the field if they are suspected of having concussion.
Jude Bellingham is a star
The third youngest England World Cup debutant – after Michael Owen and Luke Shaw – became the Three Lion’s second youngest goalscorer at the tournament and the first player born after 2000 to score at a World Cup.
He hadn’t even made his Birmingham City when England were at Russia 2018!
A goal on his first appearance at the World Cup topped off a remarkably mature performance by the 19-year-old.
Borussia Dortmund’s youngest ever captain broke up the play fantastically, but was also the spark at the start of many of England’s attacking moves – a complete performance by the mercurial Brummie teenager.
Iran national anthem protest
None of Iran’s starting XI sang the national anthem in a show of support for the ongoing protests against their government.
Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos and Bayer Leverkusen’s Sardar Azmoun have previously spoken out about the violent repression of the popular protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Scenes from the stands showed Iranian supporters holding up banners reading ‘Woman. Life. Freedom.’
And there was also tearful applause at the players’ decision to avoid singing ‘Sorude Melliye Jomhuriye Eslâmiye Irân‘ in what appeared to be a surprise to onlookers.
Iran‘s captain gave condolences to those who had lost family members in the pre-match press conference, breaking his own silence on the protests.
Free flowing football in a new formation
Southgate’s men were an attacking force for large parts of the game, playing in a formation they have rarely used in the build-up to the tournament.
England netted six goals as they cruised to their highest scoring opening World Cup group game.
It comes as criticism had started to grow around Southgate playing a rigid style of football that did not generate enough goalscoring opportunities.
England had been winless in six going into this game – but this performance will have put those pre-tournament nerves to bed.
