FIFA 2022 - England Outclassed Iran

On Three Monday FIFA Football '22 Fixtures At Qatar

England outclassed Iran with a score of 6-2 in Monday's Group B opener in Doha. Saka and Bellingham sparkle as England crush Iran. 

Yet this game will surely be remembered for something else entirely. Fans and Iranian players protested by not singing the national anthem. Protests have been taking place across Iran since mid September after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old woman from Iran's Kurdistan province. 

FIFA WC 2022 will also be remembered for fans brand FA 'SPINELESS' for capitulating to Qatar and FIFA over 'OneLove' LGBT rainbow armband after England captain Harry Kane was threatened with being booked. England and eight other teams planned to wear the armband as equality gesture. But players faced being booked and even banned under strict FIFA dress rules.

Homosexuality is still illegal in Qatar and the armband would highlight this.

Coming back to the game, there were no surprises in the game. England dominated from start to finish. A goal from the teenager Jude Bellingham started the rout before Bukayo Saka (two), Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish finished the job. Grealish’s celebration was particularly noteworthy.

It began as a tale of two centre‑forwards and ended as a game of two goalkeepers. As the Netherlands began their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Senegal in another Group A match. Cody Gakpo and Klaassen stun Senegal with a thrilling Netherlands late show.

With their three powerful central midfielders, Senegal had, for the most part, negated the Dutch but when Frenkie de Jong was given time to measure his cross from the left, Mendy was slow to react, allowing Cody Gakpo to get to the ball first and direct it into the net. 

In the 3rd late night Group B match of the day Gareth Bale’s penalty rescued a point for Wales in the World Cup opener with the USA. A clumsy foul from the USA defender Walker Zimmerman, to cancel out Timothy Weah’s incisive opener and get Wales off the mark. Still, it was as entertaining as you’re likely to get in a 1-1 tie, and we had some trademark Gareth Bale heroics to cap off an enjoyable game.

USA are making their 11th appearance while this will be Wales's 2nd. The two sides have never played against each other in a competitive game. The US team last appeared in the tournament in 2014; for Wales, this is their first World Cup appearance since 1958.

That was all in three games worth commenting on.