African champions, Senegal on Monday crumbled as they began their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands.
Cody Gakpo scored a late goal on his debut and Davy Klaassen added a second deep in stoppage time to give the Netherlands the win in their Group A clash at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Coach Louis Van Gaal handed goalkeeper Andries Noppert his first international cap and he had little to do as the Dutch defence stifled the African champions, though he did pull off a superb save in the 73rd minute to parry a stinging shot from Idrissa Gueye.
The Netherlands attack had been wasteful throughout until the 23-year-old Gakpo stole through the middle and beat Edouard Mendy to a cross from Frenkie de Jong to send a glancing header into the net in the 84th minute.
Substitute Klaassen reacted quickest nine minutes into stoppage time to pounce on a rebound from a Memphis Depay shot and fire home to put the Dutch top of the group alongside Ecuador, whom they meet in their next game on Friday.
England’s Fifa World Cup campaign opened in a thoroughly convincing fashion as they outclassed Iran in an incident-packed match in Doha.
Gareth Southgate’s side strolled to victory, with Iran’s hopeless plight made worse by the early loss of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand to concussion after a clash of heads with team-mate Majid Hosseini.
Jude Bellingham got England off the mark in this World Cup with a soaring header from Luke Shaw’s cross 10 minutes before the break and the game was wrapped up before half-time thanks to Bukayo Saka’s fine strike and Raheem Sterling’s classy volley with the outside of his foot from Harry Kane’s cross.
Saka got his second before Iran’s supporters were given a moment of real delight when Mehdi Taremi scored a fine goal after 65 minutes – but England substitute Marcus Rashford then netted another smooth, composed strike with his first involvement.
To put the gloss on an incredibly dominant display, Jack Grealish slotted home from close range after a good run and pull back by Callum Wilson.
Iran did pull another back in injury time when Taremi slotted in a penalty after a John Stones foul.
The last match of the day between USA and Wales ended in a 1-1 draw
Bale, Wales’ all-time top scorer, crashed home an 82nd-minute spot-kick to earn his side a point in their first World Cup game since 1958.
The former Real Madrid man was making his first start for club or country since late September.
Wales fell behind to Tim Weah’s fine first-half strike and looked to be heading for defeat before Bale was brought down inside the area by defender Zimmerman.
Wales face Iran on Friday before playing neighbours England in their final Group B match on November 29.
