Gareth Southgate sets new tournament record as England manager serenaded again

They let the football do the talking. And got their message across in glorious fashion.

England produced their biggest ever win in an opening match of a tournament and scored six goals for only the second time in a World Cup.

Yes, it was only Iran but actually they are ranked 20th in the world and, while that may not say much for others, it was still a scoreline to make a few sit up and take notice.

This was Gareth Southgate releasing the handbrake, England producing free-flowing attacking football and thrilling us with some lovely goals and big performances.

At the heart of it were Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka who were magnificent and have a combined age of just 40 which shows they - and England - have one hell of a future.

Three Lions boss Southgate has taken so much stick over being too cautious, too defensive and not playing to England's full potential. This time, he ditched a back three, went 4-3-3 and got more talent and attacking threat in the line-up.

This was a mood-changer and a victory which had the loyal England fans serenading the manager again by the end with songs of "Southgate you're the one."

What had looked like being a painful split was a love story formed in the desert against the backdrop of the most controversial World Cup history.

All the rows over armbands, the tournament being played just before Christmas and why Qatar were given it in the first place have understandably dominated all of the build-up.

And yet never has it felt so good for the football to start especially like this. Bellingham was just magnificent as he patrolled midfield and wrote his name into the record books at the same time.

Bellingham became England's youngest scorer at a World Cup since Michael Owen in 1998 as it was his glorious header which opened the scoring and gave the team lift-off.

He was fearless, majestic and faultless as, incredibly, he had a 100 per cent pass rate in the first half with 40 passes completed as he also played a part in two more goals.

Saka scored twice and there were so many good contributions as Harry Maguire was powerful until he went off injured. Luke Shaw was superb from left back, Raheem Sterling scored and, even though Harry Kane did not score, his all-round contribution was brilliant.

England took a while to break the deadlock as Maguire hit the bar, should have had a penalty and yet Bellingham's opener was worth the wait. Shaw's cross was perfect and Bellingham glanced home after 35 minutes.

Shaw and Maguire combined to set up Saka who fired home as second into the top corner with a fierce shot. A long concussion injury to the Iran keeper meant there was 14 minutes added time and time for another.

Jordan Pickford launched a clearance, Bellingham released Kane and his cross was diverted home by Sterling. 3-0 at half time with more to follow. Saka got the fourth after teasing three defenders and then firing into the bottom corner.

England were pegged back when Mehdi Taremi got between John Stones and Maguire and then smashed home. England rang the changes and Marcus Rashford also scored with a lovely finish within a minute of coming on.

Bellingham then played the pass of the match to release Callum Wilson, he unselfishly squared it to another substitute Jack Grealish to score and then celebrated with a lovely tribute to an 11-year-old Manchester City fan. It was 6-1.

Pickford made a super save but Iran did get a second when VAR ruled Taremi was pulled down by Stones and Dier. Tameri stepped up and converted.

But still it could not take the gloss off England's win. Incredibly, Southgate has now won nine matches at major tournaments which is more than any other England manager, including Sir Alf Ramsey. What a way to start.

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