Spanish media launched a scathing assessment of Anthony Gordon after Marcus Rashford outshone him in England's World Cup victory over Croatia. The left-wing battle between the two English players was a key subplot ahead of the Group L opener.
Gordon's Disappointing Display
Gordon, who recently joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £70 million, was preferred by manager Thomas Tuchel but failed to make an impact. Rashford, whose hopes of a permanent move to Barcelona fell through, started on the bench but scored the fourth goal in the 85th minute to seal the win.
Spanish media outlets were quick to criticize Gordon. Barcelona daily La Vanguardia stated: "Tuchel opted for Gordon from the start, but the new Barcelona signing was very subdued. He covered a lot of ground but to no avail, having very little impact. He barely touched the ball and failed to complete either of his two dribbles in the first half. Tuchel's changes worked and Rashford, in that role he played at Barca, sealed the deal."
Fellow Barcelona outlet El Periodico echoed similar sentiments: "Thomas Tuchel wisely substituted Anthony Gordon for Marcus Rashford, reversing the transfer plan Barcelona had devised for the upcoming season. Gordon was virtually invisible, barely touching the ball, and Rashford sealed the victory when Croatia threatened to draw 3-0."
Mixed Reactions from Madrid-Based Media
Madrid-based Las Razon noted: "It was a goal with a certain intrigue, as Gordon has taken his place in the England starting line-up and his spot at Barcelona. But the former Newcastle player was barely involved throughout the match, while the player who spent time on loan at the Camp Nou made his presence felt in a short amount of time. It's just one game, though; it would be premature to draw conclusions from it."
El Mundo remarked that Rashford "showed more promise than Gordon in his limited minutes on the pitch," while Mundo Deportivo said the former Everton man made "little impact."
Praise for Jude Bellingham
Meanwhile, Marca lavished praise on Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, who scored England's third goal. They said: "Texas saw the best version of Jude Bellingham. The Englishman resembled the player from his first season at Real Madrid. Quick, with impressive physical presence, attacking runs, and excellent vision. His performance was so complete that he capped it off with a great goal that put England ahead for the third and final time in the match. Great news for the English... and for Real Madrid fans."
