Iran were 6-1 down as the game ticked beyond 100 minutes in the Group B opener. But there was still time for Iran to be awarded a spot-kick out of nowhere.
Advertisement
Referee Raphael Claus was asked to go over to the VAR monitor to review a possible foul on Iran's Morteza Pouraliganji after England defended a free-kick.
The defender had hit the deck after battling for the ball with John Stones, with replays showing the Manchester City defender had held of the bottom of the Iran star's shirt.
Advertisement
And after reviewing the footage, the referee pointed to the spot.
Iran's Mehdi Taremi made no mistake and converted his side's penalty to secure his second goal of the afternoon.
But ex-England striker Lineker didn't think the incident warranted a penalty, leading him to joke that VAR probably felt sorry for Iran as they conceded six goals in their opening game.
"It's the only explanation!" Lineker said when initially suggesting VAR felt sorry for Iran.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Lineker wasn't the only England fan left confused by the decision which he deemed to be slightly soft, given Harry Maguire had been denied one in the first half for a heavier challenge.
The Manchester United captain had been grappling to get on the end of a cross when he was manhandled by Rouzbeh Cheshmi, with the Iran star putting his arms round Maguire from behind.
Advertisement
However, despite England's protests, the incident didn't even go to review.
Armenia 
Faroe Islands 
Malta 
Liechtenstein 
Belgium 
Italy 
France 
Israel 
Greece 
England 
Rep. Of Ireland 
Finland 
Slovenia 
Norway 
North Macedonia 
Latvia 
Russia 
Brunei 
Cyprus 
Lithuania 
Portugal 
Poland 
San Marino 
Gibraltar 
Scotland 
Croatia 
Romania 
Kosovo 
Luxembourg 
Bulgaria 
Northern Ireland 
Belarus 
Denmark 
Spain 
Switzerland 
Serbia 
Azerbaijan 
Estonia 
Georgia 
Ukraine 
Andorra 
Moldova 
Montenegro 
Iceland 
Turkey 
Wales 
Albania 
Czech Republic 
Sweden 
Slovakia 
Germany 
Bosnia & Herzegovina 
Netherlands 
Hungary 
Bordeaux