Anthony Gordon fell from his bike during the European Championship in Germany, dashed England’s hopes of achieving top gear.
Gareth Southgate didn’t employ the winger again. He was claimed to be irritated by both the incident, in which Gordon was using his cell phone, and the player’s subsequent statement to the media that England’s style was too predictable.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out Gordon’s meaning: play me, and we’ll be unpredictable. But it didn’t take a genius to see he was exactly what England needed.
In his five minutes against Slovenia in the last group game, which was his lone appearance of the tournament, he disrupted both the lines and the monotony of England’s play. If that was an audition, he would have landed a more important position. Two days later, he sailed over his handlebars, and Southgate, to the team’s detriment, chose to keep the stabilisers on throughout the final rounds.
This summer, Germany had two major frustrations: delayed trains and Gordon sitting on the bench. At least Deutsche Bahn delayed repayment. England, on the other hand, will forever regret not using the one player who could have brought them up to speed.
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Anthony Gordon (pictured playing against Ireland) fell off his bike during the European Championship in Germany, and so England’s hopes of finding top gear were duly punctured
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The Newcastle forward suffered several facial injuries at the Euros after falling off his bike
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It was the point he felt compelled to make in front of the media, despite his wounded hands and broken soul. Because this was killing Gordon, the frustration of knowing he was fit and in shape, unlike others, yet his boss continued to prioritise loyalty over reasoning.
It’s fascinating to explore through Gordon’s own words. This is what he told us in Blankenhain before the last-16 tie with Slovakia. Sources close to the camp suspected that part of it was not well accepted by management.
‘I know I am a nightmare for anyone that I play against,’ he said. ‘I’m positive. Every time I get the ball, I always try to make something happen.
‘I’m not a very safe player. I am always trying to put people on the back foot. I think I add a different element to the team. It (my style) brings a sense of unpredictability.’
He repeated the above last week, and was then asked what England were missing at the Euros.
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There were two great frustrations in Germany this summer – delayed trains and Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave Gordon sitting on the bench
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On Saturday in Dublin, Lee Carsley made the correct decision by selecting Gordon, a left-winger. A straightforward answer to what had become a complicated issue
‘I think that expression, that freedom to express yourself,’ he said. ‘You could say we controlled all our games, but I don’t think we were very dynamic. We weren’t killing teams, we weren’t relentless in trying to score goals. We lacked a bit of excitement.’
Finishing the trilogy, he was asked after Saturday’s game why England looked different under Carsley.
‘I think freedom,’ said Gordon. ‘Not structured players here, there and everywhere. You had Jack (Grealish) going all over the pitch and they couldn’t really pick him up. Me and Bukayo (Saka) tried to hold the width and make runs in behind, so the lads could get in the ball more.
‘It was sort of positionless football in a sense, where people can pick the ball up wherever, intricate passing, but always with the main focus of trying to score goals.’
In just one game, Carsley demonstrated where England went wrong in the previous seven. Play Gordon. It’s as straightforward as riding a bike, you may think.