World Cup 2022 day two: news and analysis from Qatar as England and Wales make tournament debut

The 4pm kickoff today sees Senegal take on the Netherlands in Group A, then attention turns to the other home nation involved this evening.

Wales take on the USA in the 7pm kickoff in Group B. Can Gareth Bale and the boys get their campaign off to a flying start?

Here’s our football reporter Rahman Osman with his full time verdict on England’s 6-2 win over Iran:

The Netherlands seized the advantage in Group A as goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen sealed a 2-0 win over African champions Senegal.

The Lions of Teranga are missing their talisman, Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, at this tournament and though they battled hard, could not find a way past the debutant Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert.

The win puts the Oranje in a strong position in the group, with matches against Ecuador and hosts Qatar to come.

A disappointing match at Al Thumama Stadium was played in front of plenty of empty seats, despite organisers’ claims that the country is gripped by World Cup fever.

Wales have drawn with the USA in their first World Cup match in 64 years after star man Gareth Bale saved the game with a crucial penalty.

The Welsh players were caught on the back foot in the first half, with USA’s Timothy Weah hitting home an impressive shot in the 36th minute to put the Americans in front.

The second half saw the introduction of Kieffer Moore from the bench, who had an immediate impact on the game. However, it wasn’t until the 82nd minute in which Wales were finally able to draw level.

Gareth Bale was brought down in the box by USA’s Zimmerman and was given the penatly, which he expertly slotted behind goalie Matt Turner.

The pressure remained high from both sides heading to the 90th minute and into the nine minutes added time, with both teams rewarded with a 1-1 draw on the night.

Former Wales captain Laura McAllister had reportedly been told by Qatari security staff at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium ahead of Wales’ World Cup match against the USA.

The former player had donned the multi-coloured hat ahead of the game, with hundreds of other doing the same.

However, McAllister was among those attendees told that she would not be permitted to enter the stadium wearing the rainbow as the symbol was banned.

The rainbow symbol has long been associated with the LGBTQ+ community, with heavy criticism coming Qatar’s way amid its record on LGBTQ+ rights.

The incident comes shortly after English and Welsh captains Harry Kane and Gareth Bale were stopped by their FAs from wearing the ‘one love’ armband in support of the LGBTQ+ community during their opening matches.

Speaking to ITV News, McAllister, who ended up sneaking her hat into the stadium, said: “I pointed out that FIFA had made lots of comments about supporting LGBT rights in this tournament, and said to them that coming from a nation where we’re very passionate about equality for all people, I wasn’t going to take my hat off.

“They were insistent that unless I took the hat off we weren’t actually allowed to come into the stadium.”

Reports on Twitter also suggest that an American journalist was prevented from entering the same stadium while wearing a t-shirt which had a rainbow incorporated into the design.