Anthony Gordon’s England impact roars after his Barcelona debut, sparking a new era.
The England side crushed Croatia 7-0 on Saturday, a result that highlighted the sudden rise of Anthony Gordon. The former Newcastle forward scored a soaring header in Rijeka and added an assist that stemmed from a well-timed penalty at the Azteca earlier in the campaign.
Across his last six internationals he has logged eight decisive contributions – three goals and an assist – a rate that translates to a goal contribution roughly every 53 minutes of play.
England’s goal-and-assist explosion
Since replacing a teammate in the decisive DR Congo match, Gordon has become a fixture on the pitch, delivering at least one goal or assist per hour of action.
The numbers tell a clear story: eight direct contributions in six games, including two against Croatia on Saturday, and a penalty-derived assist that TIP-offed the first goal. That frequency makes his impact one of the most efficient in the squad, eclipsing even the seasoned trio of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
From Newcastle to Camp Nou: a technical rebirth
Gordon’s confidence surge coincides with his £68 million transfer to Barcelona over the summer. In England he felt pigeon-holed as a fast, pressing winger, while the Catalan club has allowed his football intelligence to flourish. Manager Thomas Tuchel noted an “extra air of confidence” after the international break, observing that Gordon now operates on a higher gear and shows greater seniority. The move also answered a personal belief that he had been undervalued at home, prompting him to prove his worth on Europe’s biggest stage.
New partnership on the left flank
At the Nations League fixture, Gordon teamed up with full-back Lewis Hall a former Newcastle teammate, to create a telepathic link that Tuchel praised. Hall’s precise pass set up Gordon’s second header, while his relentless pressing sparked the build-up that allowed Bukayo Saka to finish the match with a thunderous strike. Tuchel highlighted Hall’s blend of offensive vision and defensive grit, calling him “very clinical” and essential to the left-hand side that has long troubled England.
The partnership proved decisive when Croatian defender Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich) was left scrambling after Gordon’s aerial duel. Gordon’s ability to halt an attack, out-muscle Stanisic and then sprint past him embarrassed the defender, who had featured in both legs of last season’s Champions League semi-final. Despite missing three clear chances in his 70-minute spell, Gordon’s physicality and composure underscored why he is now considered a primary option on the left wing, especially with Marcus Rashford returning to the squad.
Gordon himself admits the move to Spain reshaped his self-perception. Speaking to ITV, he said he always felt “respected for speed and pressing” in England but that his “quality and IQ” were only noticed by teammates. At Barcelona, where technical skill is a prerequisite, those attributes have finally gained recognition, earning him praise from both the club and the national team. As the next Nations League round approaches, Gordon’s blend of pace, aerial prowess and newfound confidence positions him as a key pillar in Tuchel’s England.
