Alan Shearer has shared his thoughts on Anthony Gordon’s brief appearance for England, after the Newcastle United player was only brought on during the final moments of yet another frustrating draw at Euro 2024.
Despite finishing at the top of their group in Germany, England heads into the knockout stages with minimal momentum following lackluster draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
Tuesday night’s match required a win to secure the top spot, yet Gareth Southgate made just one change, bringing Conor Gallagher in for Trent Alexander-Arnold—a move that critics saw as unsurprising.
As stoppage time approached against Slovenia, England found themselves in a precarious position. Slovenia’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak had little to do, and a Danish victory in the concurrent match would have placed England in a more challenging draw.
Southgate eventually introduced Anthony Gordon for his first minutes of the tournament, but only in the final moments of the game in Cologne.
Gordon, despite limited time on the field, managed to make a noticeable impact. His first touch saw him dribble the ball out of play, showcasing an intensity that had been missing from the England side all evening.
He then delivered a remarkable pass, leading to a shot opportunity for Cole Palmer. On the podcast “The Rest Is Football,” Alan Shearer expressed his confusion over Gordon’s limited playing time.
Shearer questioned Southgate’s strategy, saying, “What’s Gordon done against him? Given him just two or three minutes, I think Gordon showed more in those few moments on the left-hand side than the team did in two and a half games, with his forward passing, energy, class, and know-how. That move, involving Gordon’s pass and Palmer’s shot, was probably England’s best of the evening.”
The decision to only replace Alexander-Arnold with Gallagher was met with widespread disappointment among England fans.
Many believe that Jude Bellingham should be positioned closer to Declan Rice, with Phil Foden moving to the center, and either Cole Palmer or Anthony Gordon coming in.
Gordon’s impressive performance in the Premier League last season, where he scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists for Newcastle, made his limited game time in the tournament even more puzzling.
While it was uncertain if he would start, his minimal playtime as England moves into the knockout stages is seen as a significant oversight by many, including Shearer.
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