England got their World Cup campaign in Qatar off to a flying start as Gareth Southgate’s side roared to a 6-2 victory against IranJude Bellingham's first goal for England (35) got things under way for the Three Lions before strikes from Bukayo Saka (43) and Raheem Sterling (45+1) saw them race into a three-goal lead at the interval
England added to their lead after the break when Saka added his second of the game (62) with another smart finish, but Southgate's side were given a wake-up call when Mehdi Taremi pulled a goal back for Iran (65)
It proved to be just that for England as substitute Marcus Rashford added a fifth with just his third touch (71) after coming onto the pitch before another sub in Jack Grealish added England's sixth (90)
There was a minor blemish right at the death as referee Raphael Claus was asked to check the pitchside monitor by VAR after John Stones was adjudged to have tugged the shirt of Taremi
 The penalty was awarded and Taremi kept his cool to send Jordan Pickford the wrong way
Despite Iran's late goal it was the start Southgate, who had come in for some criticism after his side's poor run of form leading into the tournament, would have dreamed of as his side roared to the top of Group B
Off-field issues dominated the build-up to the game with  at the World Cup in Qatar
, while Once the action got underway, England thought they should have had an early penalty when Harry Maguire was man-handled by Rouzbeh Cheshmi in the penalty area following Kieran Tripper's corner
Morteza Pouraliganji was also holding John Stones as England's centre-backs attacked the ball, but Brazilian referee Raphael Claus waved away the penalty appeals before VAR stuck with the on-field decisions
Any rhythm England had built in the early stages was then stopped when Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand collided horribly with his team-mate Hosseini Majid as he tried to deal with a threatening Harry Kane cross
Beiranvand spent several minutes down on the turf having treatment
 Surprisingly, he was allowed to continue despite looking in no fit state to take any further part, but minutes later he signalled to the bench, slumping to the floor before being carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by reserve goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini
It didn't take long for England to pick up a head of steam after the enforced break
 Trippier's corner was met by Maguire, but his header thudded against the crossbar
However, England didn't have to wait long for their first goal of the tournament, and it came thanks to Bellingham's first international goal
 Luke Shaw whipped the ball in from the left and the Borussia Dortmund midfielder rose highest to glance the ball into the far corner
England's dominance continued as Saka latched onto Maguire's knockdown before firing a stunning finish into the roof of the net to double the advantage and Sterling's smart finish from Kane's cross completed a perfect first 45 minutes for Southgate's side
After the break, Saka added his second of the game, shifting the ball onto his left foot before cutting inside two Iran defenders and firing beyond Hosseini
England were denied a clean sheet when Taremi peeled off Maguire to collect a pass from Ali Gholizadeh and flash a first-time shot past Pickford via the underside of the crossbar
Southgate then rung the changes in attack, and it was two replacements who added to England's scoreline
 Rashford, who was released by Kane's pass, scored with his third touch, producing a calm finish to add England's fifth before unselfish play from Callum Wilson teed up Grealish for a tap-in to score a sixth
England were on course to match their biggest World Cup win, only for Taremi to score a last-gasp penalty after Stones was adjudged to have fouled the striker after a VAR check
"I'm a bit fed up with the end of it
 To win by that margin and play the way as we did for the majority of the game we have to be really happy
 We looked ready
 We wanted to be that type of team
"They dealt with game really well, there were lots of stoppages but our pressing and movement was really good
 I've got to be really happy but we should not be conceding two goals at that stage in the game
"We will have to be right on our game against the USA
 It is a great start but we have to be better
" "It's a consequence of the score, we had 24 mins of added time across the game and it is a long time to focus and we just lost concentration
 When we play at a slow tempo we are nowhere near as effective
" "We have some good players and today they really delivered
 Our attacking players look a threat, our defence in the first hour controlled the game and were patient
 The midfield were excellent and our forwards looked a threat
 It is a great maker to put down
""What I particularly liked was Jack Grealish's goal with Callum Wilson on
 He could have been selfish but he was thinking of the team even at that moment
 I'm a miserable so and so
 I should be more excited but I have to keep the team on the right track
"Sky Sports World Cup reporter  analyses how England's 6-2 victory against Iran will take the pressure off the squad and give them confidence heading into their two other Group B matches
England are now the early leaders in Group B, with Iran propping up the table behind Wales and USA, who play later on Monday (kick-off 7pm)
England face USA in their second group game on Friday November 25, at 7pm, while Iran take on Wales on the same day at 10am
The winners of Group B will face the runners-up from Group A, containing Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar
 The runner-up in Group B will face the winners of Group A
Bukayo Saka's last touch for England at a major tournament led to the worst moment of his professional career - but he showed against Iran that he has carried no baggage into the World Cup
The Arsenal winger, one of Gareth Southgate's favourites, justified his selection over the likes of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish with a two-goal performance
Saka's left foot, cutting in from the right, brings balance to the England attack while he can also be trusted to help his full-back
 That was all evident in his fine display at the Khalifa International Stadium with his first goal, a sumptuous volley that clipped the underside of the crossbar, sparking England's tournament well and truly into life
He showed his composure in the second half to cut into the box and find the bottom corner while constantly giving the Iran defence something to worry about
Saka, still only 21, now has the experience and confidence to become one of England's main men in Qatar
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