Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC One

Great ink up between Kane and Trippier. Bright play from England. It's a great save and very brave from Beyranvand because you can see that Sterling had a tap in there.

Inn the aftermath of that flick of the ball from Iran keeper Alireza Beyranvand, he has clattered into one of his own defenders. It's a smack of heads. A nasty one. It has drawn blood from the number one's nose.

The last thing Iran need now is to lose their keeper.

Chance! The best of the game so far.

A free-kick is taken short to Harry Kane, who whips in a cross that the Iran keeper gets a glove to, to put off Harry Maguire at the back post. The defender prods the ball into the sidenetting.

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Top pressing from Bukayo Saka. Iran getting little chance to get out of their own half.

England trying to make an early statement of intent.

England continue on the offensive.

A cross from the left is headed clear but the team in white and blue regather and start again.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Really confident start for England, every player getting a touch of the ball. Created some space for Kieran Trippier down the right hand side, getting a good cross in and Sterling should have just attacked it.

I mean, that is a penalty, right?

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC One

There's no point there where anybody is deciding to look at the ball. He's got no interest in winning the ball, Cheshmi has just dragged Maguire down. It's a bear hug, a ridiculous challenge.

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We playing rugby now?

England's first corner fails to find anyone in the middle, but part of that is because Roozbeh Cheshmi has his arms right around Harry Maguire to drag him to the turf.

It is no penalty on the field, or via VAR. Hmmmm.

The first little glimpse of an opening sees Kieran Trippier found on the right. He has been pinging brilliant balls in all season for Newcastle and he just fails to find Raheem Sterling on this occasion.

Every England player bar Jordan Pickford is in the Iran half in these opening minutes. Trying to assert some authority.

England immediately bag possession of the ball and get a good familiar feel of it, passing it around patiently at the back. They might well need some patience today. Iran are no mugs.

England have opted not to make one statement today with a OneLove armband but the Three Lions players do take the knee ahead of kick-off.

And with one blow of the whistle, another World Cup campaign is up and running...

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Declan Rice becomes the youngest West Ham player (23 years, 311 days) to start a World Cup game for England since Martin Peters in the 1966 final against Germany (22 years, 264 days).

At 21 years and 77 days old, Bukayo Saka is the youngest Arsenal player to start for England at the World Cup, overtaking Ashley Cole (21 years, 164 days in 2002 vs Sweden).

Pretty big boots to fill for both. Rice, in particular, would love to emulate Peters, wouldn't he??

We've got some Brazilians overseeing matters today.

The referee is Raphael Claus, with assistants Rodrigo Figueiredo and Danilo Simon.

Claus has refereed in several international competitions prior to this, such as the Copa America in 2021 and the 2019 Under-20 World Cup.

There's some serious focus on the faces of the Iranian players during their anthem as they stand in silence, and tears from one supporter in the stands.

There may still be England fans outside the ground waiting to get in, but there are enough inside the stadium to make themselves heard for the national anthem.

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC One

Going into a tournament like Harry Maguire did last time, off of being injured and not playing many games, you can do that and find your fitness. It's difficult but you can do it. But going in without confidence is a bigger bigger task. I don't think changing shirts and just going with England changes your confidence, you need games.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Just watching Jordan Pickford in the warm-up has epitomised how he has improved with England in particular and he has benefitted form Southgate in how he's calmed. That comes with growing up as well but just watching him, he is a lot less animated and he can make better decisions from there.

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