Anthony Gordon turned a disastrous start to the World Cup into a decisive performance for England, becoming a key player in their run to the quarter-finals. The winger, who signed a £60.7 million transfer to Barcelona at the end of May, not only overcame his early poor form but also shone in moments of great pressure, particularly against Mexico at the legendary Estadio Azteca.
In the round of 16 match, with England tied against Mexico and the atmosphere heating up, Gordon experienced an unusual moment with the opposing coach, Javier Aguirre. In the 26th minute, Aguirre shouted his name and, in a jovial tone, said: “Fuck you,” bursting into laughter and infecting Gordon with the same reaction. “I remember that,” recalled the England international. “It was a joke. I had just gone past the full-back down the line, so I actually took it as a compliment. He was talking to me and Jude the whole game. There was a lot of tension between me and Jude… I actually liked it.”
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Gordon's response to the provocation was exemplary. He was involved in the build-up to Bellingham's second goal and, shortly after Jarell Quansah's red card, he won the penalty that Harry Kane converted to make it 3-1, ensuring a hard-fought victory of 3-2. “The reason I will always succeed is that my mindset towards disappointment is very good,” Gordon explained. “The first two games went very badly. But when I was called upon against Congo, I reacted very well.”
The journey to this point has not been easy. After a poor performance against Croatia and a lackluster display against Ghana, Gordon found himself relegated to the bench for the third game, with Marcus Rashford taking his place. He only returned to the pitch in the 61st minute of the match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, when England was trailing 1-0. At that moment, he assisted Harry Kane twice, securing the turnaround. “I felt trapped in the first games; I wasn’t playing to my main characteristics. When the opportunity arose, I decided to do what brought me here.”
His humble beginnings in Liverpool are always present in Gordon's motivation. “I was born in Norris Green and then moved to Walton, areas that are very poor, with a lot wrong, but that created a huge strength in me to want to get out of there and provide better for my family,” he said.
His thirst for self-improvement is evident. During his presentation at Barcelona, he answered questions in Spanish, surprising journalists. “My motivation… it’s everything we have. We play football and we fool ourselves into thinking it’s just to win. We want to win, of course. But above all, I want to see who I can become, mentally. I have always been fascinated by understanding how far I can go. I want to learn languages, read books, discover what kind of person I can be.”
Regarding the game in Mexico, he highlighted the physical and psychological challenges. “I immediately felt the impact of the altitude when I landed. In the first 20 minutes of the game, I had to take deep breaths, but then it passed. There was a lot of talk about the altitude, but I had to show that it’s not physical; it’s mental.”
Gordon praised Thomas Tuchel, the English coach, describing him as “very spiritual” and “an unbelievable motivator.” “With him, everything is about a greater purpose. It’s not about individuals; it’s about killing the ego and putting ourselves below the final goal.”
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The winger also addressed the peculiarity of joining Barcelona in the same summer that the club released Rashford, his rival in the national team, back to Manchester United. “Marcus is a great person, very misunderstood. He helped me a lot with details about the club, even in my house search.”
Now, with the quarter-finals against Norway on the horizon, Gordon remains focused. “It’s a huge opportunity. We need to concentrate on how we play and train. The minute we start thinking about the trophy or the medals is when everything can derail. The process is everything.”
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