The kids are alright: Bellingham, Saka kick-start England's party

England can't equal their biggest-ever World Cup win, the 6-1 victory against Panama in 2018 but this will more than do

DOHA: The sound of silence bounced off and echoed on the terraces of Khalifa International Stadium as Iran's players lined up for the national anthem but did not sing. And when television cameras zoomed in on a woman in a hijab crying silently, you knew Team Melli had left an impact on the World Cup before they had kicked a ball. From Vaka Hakhamaneshi in the Indian Super League (ISL) to Sardar Azmoun and his mates, footballers in Iran have not shied from telling the world that women's choices matter.

There are few things more soul-stirring at World Cup games than teams belting out the national anthem and swathes of the stadium singing along. If the Hino Nacional Brasileiro ringing across venues when Brazil played was one of the takeaways of 2014, Iran's refusal to do that would be remembered from this. It was an act of defiance reminiscent of the Black Power salute in the 1968 Olympics. Faced with the threat of bookings and sending-offs, England and other countries have decided against wearing an armband showing solidarity with the LGBTQ+.

You can't sanction silence. So, Iran protested but England fell in line. And when the match ended 6-2 with the English Lions promising to make it a winter to remember, both teams had scored crucial points - one an early warning to all contenders, the other for gender equality and the right to protest.