Anthony Gordon has faced harsh criticism from Spanish media following England's World Cup victory over Croatia, with outlets questioning whether Barcelona made the right choice in signing him over Marcus Rashford.
Competition for Left-Wing Spot
The Group L opener was marked by the battle for the left-wing position between Gordon and Rashford. Gordon recently completed a £70 million move to Barcelona from Newcastle United, while Rashford's hopes of a permanent switch to the Nou Camp fell through, leaving his future at Manchester United uncertain.
England manager Thomas Tuchel selected Gordon in the starting lineup, relegating Rashford to the bench in Dallas. However, it was Rashford who made the decisive impact, scoring the fourth goal in the 85th minute to seal the win after replacing Gordon.
Spanish Media Reaction
Barcelona-based publication 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."
El Periodico, another Barcelona outlet, 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."
Madrid-based Las Razon commented on Rashford's goal: "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 noted 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 Bellingham
Elsewhere, Marca heaped praise on Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, who scored England's third goal early in the second half. 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."
