In pictures: England thrash Iran 6-2 in strong start to Qatar World Cup 2022

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England hammered Iran 6-2 on Monday in an emphatic World Cup opener thanks to two goals from Bukayo Saka and strikes by Jude Bellingham and Raheem Sterling, before substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish rounded off the rout. | Above: Iran's Sadegh Moharrami, left, challenges for the ball with England's Luke Shaw during the group B match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Image Credit: AP

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England had come close to taking the lead in the Group B opener, with Harry Maguire heading against the crossbar, before Bellingham, 19, steered in a header from a Luke Shaw cross in the 35th minute. | Above: England's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Eight minutes later, England doubled their lead when Maguire climbed highest from a corner to head down for Saka to score. | Above: England's Bukayo Saka, left, scores his side's second goal against Iran. Image Credit: AP

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Sterling flicked in a cross by captain Harry Kane in first-half stoppage time before Saka bamboozled Iran's defence and made it 4-0 in the 62nd minute. | Above: England's Bukayo Saka scores their fourth goal. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Mehdi Taremi narrowed the gap for Iran three minutes later but Rashford made it 5-1 and Grealish, also coming off the bench, scored England's sixth. | Above: Iran's Mehdi Taremi (C) scores their first goal past England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Image Credit: AFP

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England's Marcus Rashford scores their fifth goal. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Mehdi Taremi scored a consolation second goal (above) for Iran from the penalty spot in the dying seconds. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Supporters attend the Qatar World Cup Group B match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Image Credit: AFP

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The referee displays the yellow card for Iran's Morteza Pouraliganji, right. Image Credit: AP

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Iran's goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini dives to stop the ball after England's forward Bukayo Saka scored his team's second goal. Image Credit: AFP

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England's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Iran's defender Ehsan Hajsafi (C) and England's forward Bukayo Saka fight for the ball. Image Credit: AFP

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England manager Gareth Southgate reacts during the match. Image Credit: REUTERS

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England's Harry Kane walk with Harry Maguire as he is substituted after a concussion injury. Image Credit: REUTERS

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England fans celebrate after Raheem Sterling scored their third goal. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Iran's Sadegh Moharrami, left, challenges for the ball with England's Luke Shaw. Image Credit: AP

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England's Jude Bellingham, centre, scores his side's opening goal. Image Credit: AP

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Iran's Mehdi Taremi, left, and England's Jude Bellingham, center, collide. Image Credit: AP

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In pictures: England thrash Iran 6-2 in strong start to Qatar World Cup 2022

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In pictures: England thrash Iran 6-2 in strong start to Qatar World Cup 2022

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