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England captain Harry Kane,fouled here by Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji,wore a FIFA-approved armband rather than the inclusive OneLove armband after the governing body threatened to sanction captains who carried the LGBTQ messaging.Credit:AP

FIFA president Gianni Infantino fancies himself as a sage and pioneer,but is in fact a common standover man. Don’t forget that somewhere in his trophy cabinet at home is an Order of Friendship medal he received from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2019.

It is possible to be both disappointed and empathetic with the players. FIFA wedged them. In any case,what this day demonstrated most clearly – other than England’s World Cup credentials – are the limits of player advocacy and the World Cup as a proxy as an enlightenment movement and the game as a de facto United Nations.

So many statements were made that any one struggled to make itself heard. That is not to minimise the worthiness of any of them,but it became a cacophony.

Pre-match,there was a declaration by Irani striker Karim Ansarifard,in the context of a brutal crackdown in Iran against women protesting their subordination,that his team was playing for all his countryfolk.

Iranian fans at the stadium make their own statements.Credit:AP

“It’s always an honour to represent our country,” he said. “We play for all men and women from our country. When I say people from our country,there are no exceptions. Those people include all male and all females.”

Noticeably,none of the Iranian team sang the national anthem pre-match. In the stands,Iranian women were seen crying and waving banners that read “Women,life,freedom”. At home,they would not be seen at all in a stadium. To complete the set,England maintained their recent custom of taking the knee just before the first whistle.

On the pitch,there was no clutter or confusion. Every team in Group B is ranked in the top 20. It’s deadly. But between England and Iran this day,there was a gulf. England scored six and might have had at least two more. Their football throughout was sharp,busy and well-worked,a contrast to the lacklustre output in six winless games leading into the tournament.

All the goals were crisply taken and became progressively easier as Iran wilted. There was a brace for Bukayo Saka,goals also for Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham,and when they gave way to the subs,Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish joined in. Harry Kane did not score,but that was a bonus because nothing is surer than that he will. The tournament is on notice.

Iran’s two goals in counterpoint need not concern England unduly. A series of injury disruptions and two long VAR consultations prolonged this match interminably;25 minutes of added time were played over two halves. Any team might have been lulled. Iran’s second goal was from a penalty that was the last act of the match and could reasonably be called posthumous. By then,much of the crowd had vacated. They were making their own statement.

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