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Harry Maguire Starts For England As Gareth Southgate Chooses 4-3-3 System Against Iran

Harry Maguire has been named in England's starting XI for their first game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Maguire will start in a back four against Iran.

Robert Summerscales

Harry Maguire Starts For England As Gareth Southgate Chooses 4-3-3 System Against Iran
Harry Maguire Starts For England As Gareth Southgate Chooses 4-3-3 System Against Iran /

Harry Maguire has been named in England's starting XI for their first game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Maguire has only started three of Manchester United's 14 Premier League games this season but England boss Gareth Southgate has kept faith in a player that has served him well as previous tournaments.

Southgate has opted to line his team up in a 4-3-3 formation against Iran, with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham deployed in the center of the field.

Harry Maguire pictured at a training session in Qatar ahead of England's 2022 World Cup opener against Iran
Harry Maguire pictured at a training session in Qatar ahead of England's 2022 World Cup opener against Iran :: IMAGO/PA Images/Nick Potts

Captain Harry Kane will be supported in attack by Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka and Chelsea's Raheem Sterling.

Jordan Pickford starts in goal, a week after being given the no.1 in England's list of squad numbers.

Of England's 11 starters against Iran, only Saka (17), Bellingham (22), Kieran Tripper (12) and Mason Mount (17) have a squad number higher than 11.

England and Iran have never previously met in an international soccer match.

Iran have faced European opposition eight times at World Cups, losing six and drawing two of those games.

Confirmed England XI to play Iran:

Pickford, Trippier, Maguire, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Bellingham, Mount, Saka, Sterling, Kane.

Iran XI: Beiranvand, Moharrami, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Mohammedi, Nourollahi, Cheshmi, Hajsafi, Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Karimi.

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.

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