FIFA World Cup 2022: England rout Iran 6-2

by Staff Writer 22-11-2022 | 9:21 AM

England beat Iran 6-2 following two goals from Arsenal winger Bakayo Saka and one from Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, and Manchester City's Jack Grealish.

Iran's Mehdi Taremi, a striker for Porto, scored two goals.

Iran goalkeeper Beyranvand was taken off injured after suffering a head injury. His replacement then conceded three first-half goals.

The Iran team declined to sing the country's national anthem before kick-off, in a gesture seen as a show of support for the anti-government protest movement at home which has been severely repressed by the authorities.

Earlier, England were among seven European teams -- along with Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark -- to say their captains would not be wearing "One Love" armbands to show support for the LGBT community, after FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing one in Qatar, where homosexuality remains illegal.

National football associations said they were "frustrated" by the "unprecedented" action by FIFA, saying in a joint statement "we can't put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings".

Source: FIFA