THE England squad that has travelled to Germany ticks a lot of boxes. World-class talent. A proven international goalscorer. An appealing blend of youth and experience. A manager who has made at least the quarter-finals of the last three major tournaments.
What about actually winning something on the international stage though? Go through the list of players available to Gareth Southgate, and you’ll struggle to find one who has lifted silverware with his country. Until, that is, you get to Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon.
Both Palmer and Gordon were part of the England Under-21 side that tasted European Championship glory in Romania and Georgia last summer. Palmer scored in England’s semi-final victory over Israel, but it was Gordon who was named Player of the Tournament, alternating between a position on the wing and a starting spot as a central striker and scoring in both the group win over Israel and the quarter-final victory over Portugal.
The Newcastle United winger travelled to the finals as a promising youngster who was gradually finding his feet after his move to St James’ Park from Everton. By the time he left Georgia after starring in England’s win in the final, he was being touted as one of the most exciting young prospects in Europe. Crucially, he was also very much on the radar of Southgate, who was beginning to firm up his plans for this summer’s Euros in Germany.
“I absolutely love playing for England,” said Gordon, in an interview with the Daily Mail reflecting on his time with the Under-21s. “Those words can be said too easily. I’ve played with players in the youth system, and they’ll throw on Instagram, ‘Always an honour’. I’m thinking, ‘You’ve just hated those two weeks away’. I take so much pride in it. It feels like a going-to-war-type feeling for me.”
If last summer’s Under-21 Championships represented a breakthrough moment on the international stage, then the last nine months have been Gordon’s breakout season in the Premier League.
At Everton, he was a talented player in a side that was struggling. At Newcastle, he has become the creative talisman of a team that has competed in the Champions League and that might well have secured European qualification again had a crippling injury list not taken its toll.
While there was so much instability at St James’ Park last season, Gordon’s form was a reliable constant, with the 23-year-old scoring 11 Premier League goals and providing ten assists. He was a reliable threat down the left-hand side, regularly darting infield to get a shot away, and that is where he is likely to find himself playing with England in the next few weeks if he can force his way into Southgate’s team.
As last summer showed though, he can also play through the middle, with his versatility having almost certainly been a factor in Southgate’s decision to select him in the squad ahead of both Jack Grealish and James Maddison.
“I think versatility in a tournament is massive,” said Gordon earlier this season. “The likes of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish can play across the frontline and in midfield, but I feel that I’ve done it a lot this season, especially in big games, and I think that matters.
“I’ve played out of position in big games and done well, so I think that matters. Playing as a centre-forward or a right winger is out of position for me because the left is probably my main position. But I’ve played number ten at times, and I’ve proven in big games that, no matter where I play, I can still perform.”
Southgate clearly values Gordon’s attacking versatility, as well as the fearless manner in which he has embraced the step up to senior international level.
Gordon made his debut in March’s friendly defeat to Brazil, played again in the draw with Belgium, and won his third cap in this month’s Wembley defeat to Iceland, where his breaks down the left-hand side provided some of the few highlights in an otherwise turgid England display.
He plays in a part of the pitch where England are arguably at their strongest, but while he might not start when Southgate’s side play their opening game of the Euros against Serbia on Sunday, it would be a surprise if he did not find himself coming on at some stage.
“He (Gordon) has been outstanding all year,” said Southgate. “We were able to see him in the Champions League games, which, of course, is very similar to our world, knockout games against top-level opponents.
“The fact he is weighing in with goals is important, but also the work he does off the ball. He works tirelessly for the team, and I think we saw that in our games in March as well. We were very pleased with what he did.”
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