It was a passionate night as the group stage of the Qatar World Cup officially began, with England taking on Iran. In the first half, there were a series of jaw-dropping moments, including the injury of Bellanfand, Iran's change of goalkeeper, and goals from Bellingham, Saka and Raheem Sterling. It was a game thanks to England's excellent performance, and they led Iran 3-0 at half-time.
The second half was equally fierce, with Saka scoring another goal, but Iran also showed tenacity, with Taremi and his team-mates teaming up to recover a city. However, England did not relent, and substitutes such as Marcus Rashford and Grealish also joined the attack, and finally in stoppage time, England beat Iran 6-2 to get off to a bright start.
This match showed the strength of the English team. Although Iran is at the top of the Asian football rankings, they are 20 times more expensive than England, which is a huge disparity. England also have a younger average age, which makes them perform better in matches. From many points of view, England clearly have a greater advantage, and the final victory is not in suspense.
In this match, two young players Bellingham and Saka performed brightly, continuing their hot form at the club. Their outstanding performances could make their worth soar again, with the two youngsters likely to be worth €20-40 million if England reach the semi-finals of this World Cup. In particular, Bellingham became the first post-00s player to score a goal in the World Cup. In addition, Sterling and Grealish, who have underperformed at the club, have also found their form in this game, although they may face a greater challenge when facing a strong opponent in the future.
Despite England's strong forward line, their backline, particularly United's two players, has been mediocre. The instability of the back line could be a major concern for England in this World Cup. Therefore, England need to improve in this position to ensure they go further in this World Cup.
According to the Daily Mail, if England eventually win the World Cup, each player will receive around £500,000, which would more than double the prize money for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In addition, team manager Gareth Southgate will receive around £3 million in bonuses, which, combined with his already generous annual salary, will be a testament to his excellent coaching.
The match is just the beginning of a long journey at the World Cup, with England facing more challenges and tests despite a satisfying victory in the opening match. However, this match has already made a good start to their journey, leaving fans looking forward to more from England's performance in this World Cup.