Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Tuesday’s papers – both the front and back pages are dominated by pictures and reports on England’s opening World Cup game against Iran. The match saw England win 6-2 and was full of twists and turns.
Teenage sensation Jude Bellingham opened the scoring, followed by wonder kid Bukayo Saka who scored twice – Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also netted a goal each.
The match was a pretty perfect start to their world cup campaign and has built confidence and excitement amongst players and fans.
Wales took on the USA in the second game for Group B on Monday, with Gareth Bale equalising USA’s first-half goal with a spot-kick goal. The USA had dominated the first half, but the second half belonged to Wales.
England thrash Iran 6-0 and Wales hold USA to draw
The Guardian says there was “unfiltered enthusiasm” among fans about Wales being back in the tournament after 64 years. Most of the mornings newspapers declare Gareth Bale a “hero” for his late equaliser.
The i calls England’s opening game a “stellar start.” The Daily Express says England began the “adventure in style” while the Daily Mail says the team just got “better and better and better” throughout the match.
The Sun labels Jude Bellingham, 19 a “wonder kid” – the teen scored the opening goal. Former England player Jamie Carragher writes in the Daily Telegraph that the current team have demonstrated that they’re a “force to be reckoned with.”
The front page of the Financial Times features an image of the England team celebrating their win, whilst the Guardian’s Sean Ingle says England impressed, but he believes the match will more likely be remembered for the fact Iran’s national team refused to sing the national anthem – “a gesture of solidarity with oppressed woman and protesters back home.”
The Daily Mirror reports on how the England and Wales captains were forced to abandon plans to wear rainbow armbands in support of LGBT rights after being told they could receive yellow cards.
Patrick Strudwick offers up his assessment of the armband row in the i, saying: “Whoops, there go footballers’ principles at the first hint of trouble”.
