England routs Iran; Netherlands-Senegal next
A day four years in the making has finally arrived. For the first time since the 2014 World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team will play in the tournament. With a young, talented team, the USMNT’s game against Gareth Bale and Wales on Monday will set the tone for a challenging, but manageable, Group B.
Elsewhere in the group, England and Iran start things off at 8 a.m. ET. Senegal, without superstar Sadio Mane due to injury, faces the 2010 World Cup runner-up Netherlands.
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Final: England 6, Iran 2
England was dominant from start to finish in its first match of the 2022 World Cup.
Next up for England? That’d be the USMNT on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. Iran will look to bounce back against Wales in Friday’s early game, a 5 a.m. ET start.
World Cup soundtrack singer walks out on interview
One of the artists behind a theme song of the 2022 World Cup stopped a live TV interview and walked out after he was asked about the issue of Qatar’s human rights record.
During a broadcast on Israeli public television in Qatar, Colombian singer-songwriter Maluma left the set calling Israel’s KAN News chief international correspondent Moav Vardi “rude.”
In the taping, Vardi asked: “Don’t you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?”
“Yeah but it’s something I can’t resolve. I just came here to enjoy life, enjoy soccer and the party of soccer,” Maluma responded. “It’s not something that I actually have to be involved with. I’m here enjoying my music and the beautiful life, playing soccer too.”
Vardi then pushed Maluma on the matter, asking if he understands why people might have an issue with his response.
“Do I have to answer that question?” Maluma said, looking off screen.
Someone heard off set is then heard telling him no.
“You’re rude,” Maluma told the reporter, then stood up and walked off the set. — Natalie Neysa Alund
England extends lead to 5-1
England made four subs in the 70th minute after a nervy moment when defender Harry Maguire was evaluated for a concussion. Marcus Rashford came on for Saka and immediately scored a goal in the run of play. The Three Lions are dominating the game so far and have not let up their attack. In the World Cup the top two teams advance on first point total with goal differential as a tiebreaker.
Iran finds a goal, England leads 4-1
Minutes after Saka scored a second goal to give England its fourth four-goal game in the World Cup (others were 2018 vs Panama, 1954 and 1966 when they won it all), Iran found the back of the net.
Iran overloaded the right side of the pitch to open up space for Mehdi Taremi to score.
Senegal vs. Netherlands — 11 a.m.
Time: Monday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. ET
Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar
How to watch: FOX and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock
The top two contenders in Group A face each other when Senegal and Netherlands kick off Monday. Senegal will be without the world-class talent of Sadio Mane due to injury, which is a critical blow. Hope now lies with goalkeeper Edouardo Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly. The Netherlands have a key absence of their own without veteran Georginio Wijnaldum.
Halftime: England 3, Iran 0
Why 14 minutes of ‘stoppage’ time in England-Iran match?
Iran’s starting goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand fell to the ground after a collision with his teammate. The goalkeeper was on the ground for more than 10 minutes and was eventually stretchered off the field in the 19th minute when Hosssein Hosseini was brought in as a substitute. Because it was a head injury, the substitution does not count against the five player subs for Iran.
The time stopped was tacked onto the end of the first 45 minutes as 14 minutes of stoppage time.
England scores twice in five minutes
England made it 2-0 after defender Harry Maguire leapt over Iranian defenders to head a ball into danger. Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka, 21, stuck the ball just right, up and over Iran’s substitute goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini. Then forward Raheem Sterling took advantage of Iran and scored on a counter attack. It was his 20th goal for the England national team.
England gets on scoreboard first
England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 19, headed in England’s first goal of the 2022 World Cup with his first goal for England and a 1-0 lead against Iran. “Hey Jude” chants spread throughout the stadium as the youngest player on England’s squad celebrated.
USMNT vs. Wales — 2 p.m.
Time: Monday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. ET
Stadium: Al Rayyan Stadium Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
How to watch: FOX and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock
As long as the eight years since their last run at the World Cup may have felt for fans of the U.S. men’s national team, the Welsh have been waiting an actual lifetime for…
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