England (4-3-3)
Jordan Pickford (GK) Great save from Sardar Azmoun but frustrated not to have finished with a clean sheet. 6
Kieran Trippier (RB) Not as energetic as the absent Reece James but he is always a reliable presence. 7
John Stones (CB) Slow to read the danger when Mehdi Taremi scored. Unlucky to concede a soft penalty in added time. 7
Harry Maguire (CB) Decent distribution and an assist but caught out for Iran’s goal. Was struggling with an injury. 7
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Luke Shaw (LB) His return to form is timely. He provided a fine cross for England’s opening goal. 8
Declan Rice (CM) The West Ham captain helped England maintain control. Disciplined in midfield and set the tempo. 7
Jude Bellingham (CM) The 19-year-old gives this team an edge. His header to open the scoring was class. 9
Mason Mount (CM) Fired just wide at 0-0 and looked dynamic and inventive. Scurried around to retrieve possession. 8
Bukayo Saka (RW) Vindicated Gareth Southgate’s decision to pick him. Beautiful dribbling and movement, plus two wonderfully clinical finishes. 9
Harry Kane (CF) Led the line confidently and earned two assists. Shook off a blow to his right ankle. 7
Raheem Sterling (LW) First World Cup goal showed why he starts. Always in goalscoring positions. Made Saka’s second. 8
Substitutes
Eric Dier (for Maguire, 70) 7; Marcus Rashford (for Saka, 71) Came on to score a lovely goal. 7; Phil Foden (for Mount, 71) 7; Jack Grealish (for Sterling, 71) Tapped in the sixth during added time. 7; Callum Wilson (for Kane, 76) Unselfishly set up Grealish’s goal. 7
Iran (5-4-1)
Ali Beiranvand (GK) Ludicrous that he was allowed to continue after a nasty head injury. Eventually went off. 6
Sadegh Moharrami (RB) Overwhelmed by England’s raids down his flank. He could not contain Shaw. 5
Morteza Pouraliganji (CB) Formerly a defensive midfielder, the converted centre-back was turned by Kane for England’s third. Booked. 4
Roozbeh Cheshmi (CB) Overpowered by Maguire when the defender nodded down for Saka to score. Substituted at half-time. 4
Majid Hosseini (CB) He was beaten in the air when Bellingham scored the opener. He struggled with England’s attack. 4
Milad Mohammadi (LB) Had the unenviable task of trying to keep up with Saka. The youngster tormented him. 4
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (RW) The winger wasted Iran’s best chance in the first half. Booked and replaced at half-time. 5
Ali Karimi (CM) He was quiet before going off during the break. England’s midfield trio outplayed negative opponents. 5
Ahmad Noorollahi (CM) The experienced midfielder was no match for Bellingham. He saw little of the ball. 5
Ehsan Haji Safi (LW) The captain spent much of his time tracking back to mark Saka. It made little difference. 5
Mehdi Taremi (CF) Carlos Queiroz’s approach left the Porto striker isolated but he did grab two consolation goals. 7
Substitutes
Hossein Hosseini (for Beiranvand, 19) An early goalkeeper replacement and could not be faulted for any of the goals. 5; Ali Gholizadeh (for Jahanbakhsh, h-t) Played a clever pass for Taremi’s first goal 6; Hossein Kanaani (for Cheshmi, h-t) 6; Saeid Ezatolahi (for Karimi, h-t) 6; Sardar Azmoun (for Noorollahi, 77) 6
