World Cup

[monks data]

World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 21, 2022 at 1pm UK

Wembley Stadium

England
6 - 2
Iran

Bellingham (35'), Saka (43', 62'), Sterling (45+1'), Rashford (71'), Grealish (90')

FT(HT: 3-0)

Taremi (65', 90+13' pen.)
Jahanbakhsh (25'), Pouraliganji (48')

Team News: Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire start for England against Iran

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 21 November 2022

Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire start for England in their World Cup 2022 opener against Iran as Gareth Southgate lines up with a four-man defence.

Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire have both been named in the starting lineup for England's World Cup 2022 opener against Iran.

The Three Lions are kicking off their bid for glory in Group B at the Khalifa International Stadium, with Gareth Southgate opting to name a four-man defence for the opening game.

The 52-year-old has gone with the bold decision to leave Phil Foden on the bench, as Arsenal attacker Saka joins Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling in the final third.

There is also a space in the XI for Mason Mount over Foden, and the Chelsea man will occupy a spot in the engine room alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, as Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson make the bench.

Kyle Walker has been passed fit to take his place among the substitutes, meaning that James Maddison is England's only absentee for Monday's game, but the former is not quite ready to return from groin surgery and cedes the right-back spot to Kieran Trippier.

Despite his struggles at Manchester United, Maguire unsurprisingly retains the faith of Southgate to line up alongside John Stones in defence, with Luke Shaw starting unchallenged at left-back.

Meanwhile, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has also retained his number one berth despite pressure from Premier League clean-sheet leaders Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope.

As for Iran, there are no major surprises in Carlos Queiroz's XI, with Porto talisman Mehdi Taremi leading the line as Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun makes the bench, having been a doubt for the match due to a calf injury.

England starting lineup: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

Subs: Ramsdale, Pope, Walker, Alexander-Arnold, White, Coady, Dier, Henderson, Gallagher, Phillips, Foden, Rashford, Wilson, Grealish

Iran starting lineup: Beiranvand; Moharrami, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Mohammedi; Nourollahi, Cheshmi, Hajsafi; Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Karimi

Subs: Niazmand, Abedzadeh, Hosseini, Ezatolahi, Khalilzadeh, Ansarifard, Amiri, Kanaani, Ghoddos, Torabi, Gholizadeh, Azmoun, Rezaeian, Jalali