Iran's veteran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was unfortunately stretchered off the pitch after he suffered a nose injury during his country's opening match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday, November 21. The incident took place within 12 minutes after a cross into the box from Harry Kane was finger-tipped away from Raheem Sterling but the shot-stopper was unlucky enough to crash into his own teammate Majid Hosseini.
It was a clash of heads between Beiranvand and Hosseini, and while the defender was quickly back to his feet after treatment, the keeper lay on the ground bleeding. After a long wait to check whether Alireza was fit enough to continue, the decision to replace the goalkeeper was taken as substitute Hossein Hosseini was brought onto the pitch as the first concussion substitute in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
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It was a one-sided match between Iran and England even before the injury, but the side only managed to break the deadlock after the injury, with Jude Bellingham heading in the ball after a pin-point cross from Luke Shaw. Then Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling also joined the scoring charts with two brilliant goals inside the penalty box, adding to the problems of the Iranians.
Beiranvand is known for his monstrous throws and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever throw of 61.26m on a football pitch. The 30-year-old achieved this feat during a 2018 World Cup qualifying match against South Korea.
The Asian giants are placed in Group B alongside England, the USA and Wales.
