Anthony Gordon strengthens claim to England’s left-wing role after two Nations League goals

Anthony Gordon strengthened his claim to England’s left-wing place with goals against Spain at Wembley on 26 September and Czechia in Prague on 29 September. England lost 3–2 to Spain before beating Czechia 2–0, and manager Thomas Tuchel has praised the Barcelona winger’s performances while stopping short of calling him an automatic starter.

The two games offered different tests. Gordon scored during England’s defeat by the world champions, then headed the opening goal against Czechia as England secured its first win of this Nations League campaign. His contribution has sharpened a selection question that has persisted on the left of England’s attack: who can make the position their own alongside Harry Kane?

How Gordon affected England’s games against Spain and Czechia

Spain went ahead at Wembley through Lamine Yamal inside two minutes, according to UEFA’s match report. Gordon equalised on the break and Kane put England ahead before half-time. Álex Baena later brought Spain level and set up Mikel Oyarzabal’s winner. Gordon’s goal mattered in a match England ultimately lost; it did not change the result.

Three days later in Prague, Gordon headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to put England ahead against Czechia. Kane scored the second goal in a 2–0 win. Both England goals came after half-time, following Pavel Sulc’s 25th-minute dismissal for a challenge on Elliot Anderson, according to the Football Association’s account.

The Football Association said the Prague header was Gordon’s third goal in as many England appearances, a sequence including the Spain match and the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. That run shows how often he has contributed recently, though the matches involved different opponents and circumstances.

What Tuchel and Kane said about Gordon’s place

Tuchel praised the difficulty of Gordon’s finish against Czechia. The England manager said there was ‘an awful lot to do’ to direct the header to the far post. Speaking about Gordon’s claim to be among the first names selected, Tuchel told the BBC he was ‘getting there’ and said the winger was defending his shirt and position through decisive performances.

Tuchel also told the Guardian that Gordon had returned from the World Cup full of confidence and wanted to show the position on England’s left was his. The manager added that expectations rise alongside praise. His comments recognise Gordon’s progress without making the selection permanent.

Kane offered a similar view of Gordon’s confidence. The England captain told the Guardian that moving to Barcelona had helped the winger feel he belonged on the biggest stage, and called him the ‘difference-maker’ against Czechia. Kane’s judgment followed Gordon’s goal and his wider involvement in England’s attacking play in Prague.

How Barcelona has shaped Gordon’s recent form

Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle at the end of May in a deal the Guardian reported at £69.3 million. By the Guardian’s 30 September report, he had five assists in seven appearances for the Spanish club, although he had yet to score for Barcelona in those games. Those club figures describe an early spell, not a season-long record.

Gordon has argued that the move has made parts of his game easier to see. He told the Guardian that he prides himself on football intelligence and making the right decisions, and that Barcelona had highlighted strengths sometimes overlooked because of his speed and pressing. In comments to ITV quoted by the BBC, he similarly said Barcelona’s style made his technical quality and decision-making more visible.

His England form began building before the move. The Guardian recounted how Gordon came off the bench against DR Congo in the World Cup last 32 and assisted both Kane goals in a 2–1 win. In the semi-final against Argentina, Gordon scored before Tuchel substituted him while changing to a back five; England went on to lose 2–1. Those earlier matches help explain why the latest performances have drawn attention, without determining what Tuchel will choose next.

Why England’s left-wing selection remains open

England have tried several players on the left in recent years, including Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden and Noni Madueke, the BBC reported. Gordon’s goals in successive Nations League fixtures and his work against Czechia give Tuchel fresh evidence in his favour. The manager’s own phrase, ‘getting there’, leaves the decision open as England continue the campaign.

The latest assessment follows NewsJaws’ earlier report on Gordon’s Barcelona start and his England role. Since then, he has scored against both Spain and Czechia and received explicit praise from Tuchel after the Prague win. The results were mixed for England, but Gordon’s individual contributions have made his case for the left-wing place stronger.