England 7-1 for World Cup glory after hitting Iran for six in Group B opener

England have been trimmed to 7-1 in their pursuit of World Cup glory for the first time since 1966 after hitting Iran for six in Monday's Group B opener.

The Three Lions were runners-up to Italy at Euro 2020 and were a pre-tournament 8-1 to go one better in Qatar before their ruthless 6-2 rout of Carlos Queiroz’s Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium.

A 6-2 England win had been a 450-1 chance with bet365, whose spokesman Steve Freeth reported 844 bets on the correct score.

The excellent Jude Bellingham gave England the lead in Al Rayyan but the Borussia Dortmund teenager was pipped to man of the match honours by Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, who netted a brace, including a superb volley to double England's advantage after Bellingham's opener.

Saka is 20-1 from 33-1 with Coral to win the Golden Boot after his double and is as short as 13-8 with bet365 to be England’s top scorer at the World Cup after Harry Kane, now a 3-1 chance in that market, failed to get on the scoresheet against Iran.

Three Lions skipper Kane has been pushed out to 12-1 to win the Golden Boot for a second World Cup in succession after his blank, having been 7-1 favourite before the tournament started.

There were also goals for Raheem Sterling and substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish in the rout. Porto striker Mehdi Taremi scored twice in reply for Iran.

England are next in action on Friday against the United States and Gareth Southgate's men are 4-7 to make it two from two in Al Khor and 1-4 to top Group B.

The Three Lions are 5-4 with Betfair and Paddy Power to progress to the knockout stages with nine points after their rout of Iran, while they are 15-8 to pick up seven points and 10-3 to claim six. It is 25-1 that they lose their final two group matches.

Iran are 4-7 with bet365 to finish bottom of the section after their heavy defeat.

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