Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon made his Euro 2024 debut on Tuesday night, but it was an appearance that begged more questions than answers for Gary Lineker.
After the 23-year-old did not see action in England’s first two matches, pundits urged Gareth Southgate to give Anthony Gordon a chance.
Anthony Gordon, a winger for Newcastle United, made his Euro 2024 debut on Tuesday night, but Gary Lineker had more questions than answers after seeing him play.
After the 23-year-old did not see action in England’s first two matches, pundits urged Gareth Southgate to give Anthony Gordon a chance.
Gary Lineker finds Anthony Gordon decision ‘baffling’
It was great to see Gordon do well on his first appearance at Euro 2024, but it was almost a case of too little too late.
That is the view of pundit Gary Lineker, who has admitted on The Rest Is Football podcast that he was baffled by how late Gordon was brought on.
“No question about that. And I thought it was a little baffling that he waited so long for Anthony Gordon to come on.
“Because I think Foden was playing there, but then he was switching to Bellingham. And I don’t think that really helped either of them in a way, because they were neither here nor there. What I did see in the second half, which is, I’m trying to put the positive spin on it.
“What I did see in the second half was energy. And I haven’t seen energy apart from the first half and hour of the first game in the other performances.”
Newcastle United winger should have came on much earlier for England
As Lineker says, it was baffling that Gordon only got five minutes to prove himself. But he managed to do exactly that, and it should hopefully lead to him featuring more in England’s next game.
Against Slovenia, Southgate started Foden on the left again, while he also had Jude Bellingham operating on that flank in the second half. They are completely wasted out there, while it means Gordon does not get to play.
Gordon’s introduction provided an instant boost in direction and pace, and it is unfortunate that it did not occur sooner. It is incomprehensible that Southgate waited until the 89th minute to substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold when he could have done so five minutes earlier.
Though rather unexpected, England ultimately benefited from this choice. They advanced to five points thanks to the draw, and the Three Lions won Group C as a result of Denmark’s defeat.
England appears to be on the “easier” side of the draw as a result of other results, which increases their chances of making it further into the competition. But unless the Three Lions improve their play, that will not occur.
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