Anthony Gordon has come under fire from sections of the Spanish media despite England opening their World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia.
England produced an entertaining performance as goals from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford secured all three points for Thomas Tuchel‘s side.
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However, much of the post-match discussion in Spain centred on Gordon, who recently completed a reported £69 million move to FC Barcelona.
Rashford’s Impact Overshadows Gordon
Tuchel selected Gordon in the starting lineup ahead of Rashford, but the winger struggled to influence proceedings. He managed just two shots before being substituted in the 72nd minute.
Rashford, meanwhile, made an immediate impact from the bench, scoring England’s fourth goal and providing greater attacking threat during his brief cameo.
Several Spanish publications highlighted the contrast between the two players.
Reports described Gordon as “virtually invisible” and claimed he had little influence on the match, while praising Rashford’s contribution after coming on.
One outlet suggested Tuchel’s substitution changed the game, while another noted that Rashford appeared more effective despite playing significantly fewer minutes, reports Give me sports.
Early Tournament Scrutiny
The attention surrounding Gordon is heightened by expectations following his high-profile move to Barcelona. Spanish media are already comparing him to Rashford, who spent time at the Catalan club before returning to England.
Despite the criticism, some reports cautioned against drawing major conclusions from a single match, noting that Gordon remains one of England’s most important attacking options heading into the rest of the tournament.
With England’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start, Gordon will have further opportunities to silence his critics and justify Barcelona’s faith in him over the coming weeks.
