The global media will be telling you all the predictable stories, there will be wall-to-wall action from Jude Bellingham's quick-fire double to Harry Kane's ice cold finish from the spot. But if you were watching 10-man England squeeze into the World Cup quarter-finals in a breathless 2-3 win against Mexico, you know that those headlines aren't quite telling the full story.
The goals came from Bellingham and Kane, yes, but Anthony Gordon was the relentless engine that drove the Three Lions into the final eight. The winger didn't just play well; he provided a masterclass in modern wing play.
A defensive menace
Mexico went into the Round of 16 fixture with a resolute and highly organized defence that had not conceded a goal all tournament. To breach them required something different from the slow possession football that had characterised England’s group stage games, and that’s exactly what Anthony Gordon delivered.
The winger was an exhaustible and constant nuisance for the Mexican defence from the opening whistle. His pressing from the front was incredible, stifling opposition defenders who had nowhere to turn and forcing turnovers in dangerous positions. Indeed, it was Gordon’s aggressive press which directly led to England’s second goal, the Winger forcing a crucial turnover in the Mexican half before instigating the fast transition which ended in Bellingham heading home from Kane's pass. Without that initial pressure, the goal doesn't happen.
Taking over in crisis
But the real testament to Gordon's importance came after Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute and England dropped deep in a desperate bid to hold onto their lead. Whilst most wingers would have faded under the defensive load of a team down a man and playing at a dizzying altitude, Gordon doubled down, driving forward to create a relief valve for his team.
His dart into the Mexican penalty area caused a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper and earned the vital penalty that Kane buried to give England a two-goal cushion which would ultimately be the difference between exiting the tournament or marching onto Miami.
Gordon didn't just score points on a stat sheet tonight; he single-handedly manufactured the goals through sheer force of will and defensive intelligence.
A profile Barca desperately needs
Fans watching Barcelona would have surely looked at Gordon's display tonight and felt a significant pang of desire. This is the type of fearless and dynamic winger that could radically transform Hansi Flick’s system at the Spotify Camp Nou next season.
While Barcelona is loaded with technical players who like to receive the ball between the lines, they are lacking a direct, vertical runner capable of high-intensity pressing throughout an entire 90 minutes.
Deco and the Barcelona got a gem on their hand and this is clearly evident based on his showing at the World Cup.
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