Anthony Gordon’s red hair was impossible to miss under the lights as England tore Croatia apart, and neither was his influence. The Barcelona winger scored with a diving header and created another goal in Saturday’s 7-0 win, extending a spell in which he has become one of Thomas Tuchel’s most reliable attacking weapons.
Key takeaways
- Gordon registered a goal and an assist as England inflicted Croatia’s heaviest defeat, winning 7-0.
- The 25-year-old has contributed to nine England goals across his last seven appearances: four goals and five assists.
- He joined Barcelona from Newcastle this summer on a five-year deal worth up to €80 million including bonuses.
- Gordon leads La Liga for assists with four, level with Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal and Espanyol’s Javi Hernandez.
- Harry Kane scored twice against Croatia, taking his England tally to 89 goals.
Gordon turns pressure into production
Gordon had already been denied three times by Barcelona colleague Dominik Livakovic before finally beating the Croatia goalkeeper. After efforts in the third, ninth and 25th minutes, he attacked Jarell Quansah’s delivery and sent a diving header into the net in the 39th minute for England’s third goal.
It was another telling contribution from a player who has made a point of improving in the air. Standing 1.83 metres tall, Gordon had recently described himself, with a smile, as “probably the worst header of the ball you will ever see”. Yet he added that he was proud of his goal in Czechia because he had spent countless hours working on that part of his game.
His previous two Nations League outings had brought goals as well. He struck with his right foot after Jude Bellingham played him through against Spain in a 3-2 defeat, then headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross during the 2-0 victory in Czechia.
Against Croatia, Gordon also supplied Bellingham for England’s second. Bukayo Saka found him inside the area, where he controlled the ball in the air with his right foot before rolling a measured left-footed pass back for Bellingham to finish in the 21st minute.
Operating from the left, Gordon repeatedly carried the ball at Croatia and combined effectively with Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall. He was replaced by Eberechi Eze after 70 minutes, with England already well clear.
A bigger role after the World Cup
Gordon’s international importance has grown sharply since the World Cup. He opened the scoring in England’s semi-final against Argentina in the 55th minute, although Tuchel withdrew him for defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute as England adopted an increasingly defensive approach and went on to lose 2-1.
He was left among the substitutes for the third-place match against France, a wild 6-4 contest, but has returned to the starting line-up during this international break and responded with decisive displays.
Tuchel believes the winger has moved into a new phase. “He has developed greater confidence,” the England coach said. “By making the difference in each of his last three matches, he has shown that he has taken another step forward.”
Gordon’s club form has matched that rise. Since leaving Newcastle for Barcelona in the summer, he has been among the division’s leading creators, sharing top spot in the La Liga assist rankings on four with Yamal and Javi Hernandez.
England now turn to Tuesday’s home fixture with Czechia at Wembley, scheduled for 20:45. Kane, meanwhile, is set to draw level with Peter Shilton’s England appearance record of 125 caps, set between 1970 and 1990. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker comes into the match after scoring his 88th and 89th international goals against Croatia.
