England are off to a flying start in their World Cup campaign following their 6-2 thumping of Iran and judging by some of the reactions, you’d swear they have one hand on the trophy already.
Gareth Southgate’s team brushed off a six-match winless run to thrash Iran 6-2 with a dynamic display of attacking football with rising stars Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham dynamic in attack, combining for half of their goals.
The English side is considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy, for the first time since their lone 1966 triumph, in Qatar, shaded by Brazil and Argentina with the bookmakers.
Even the newly installed Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was gushing with praise after the win over their Group B rivals.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s a great start for the England team and the Prime Minister would certainly pass on his congratulations to them for such a strong performance.”
England legend Alan Shearer thought Bellingham lit up the arena.
“The young boy, can we call him that? He’s not really now, he’s a man isn’t he? Bellingham. Oh my word what a performance, incredible,” Shearer said on BBC1.
His fellow BBC1 analyst Rio Ferdinand said Bellingham was playing with an authority which “goes well beyond his years”
“He’s a fabulous footballer but delivering at a World Cup like that at that age, we talk about the great midfielders we’ve played with and we’ve seen in our generation, none of them were doing what he’s doing at his age on this stage.”
Southgate wasn’t getting carried away but was impressed with the performance.
(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
“To win by that margin, to play as we did for the majority of the game, you’ve got to be really happy,” said Southgate.
“We were a real threat throughout – but we shouldn’t be conceding two goals at that stage. It is a great start, but we have to be better.”
Former English defender Jamie Carragher said it was a “perfect start” and the rest of the world have seen a force to be reckoned with.
“Given how sharp and fit England looked, it could be that our optimism that a mid-season World Cup would benefit our players is justified,” he wrote in his column for the UK Telegraph.
“There are many justified arguments against the World Cup happening right now, and why it should not be held in Qatar.
“But there is no denying England might have an advantage if they can bring the physicality of Premier League football into an international stage. Usually, that has been impossible.
“After so many indifferent starts to a World Cup and European championships, we should not be embarrassed to embrace the positivity when England starts this well on the biggest stage – and in the manner they did so with some brilliant football and goals.”
Even Qatar’s controversial ban failed to dent the enthusiasm of the travelling English fans.
“England supporters have never been so sober yet so intoxicated,” was the view from The Times.
“They were so drunk on joy, sweeping attacks and clinical finishes, on the urgency and talent in the starting XI and the outstanding reserves, that the beer ban imposed by the Qataris seemed a minor inconvenience.
“A squad of this quality should be progressing far in a tournament.”
Catch all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022ᵀᴹ live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand.
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