Barcelona's Anthony Gordon was lambasted by Spanish media after his subpar group stage outings at the World Cup. But their tune has quickly changed following his contribution to England's already iconic win against Mexico.
Gordon's Redemption at the Azteca
Gordon, who sealed a £70million move to the Catalan giants from Newcastle in May, returned on the left wing in Mexico City. Thomas Tuchel had dropped him from the starting line-up for games against Panama and DR Congo after failing to impress in the Three Lions' first two games. But he bagged two assists off the bench in the round of 32 and was reinstated.
What occurred next had to be seen to be believed, as one of England's all-time great World Cup performances saw them down co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in their own backyard. Gordon played a starring role, winning a penalty, looking dangerous and being a nuisance to the home side for all 111 minutes.
Spanish Media's Initial Criticism
For his early showings, Spanish media were quite ruthless with their evaluation of the new Barcelona man. He was dubbed "virtually invisible" and "barely involved" against Croatia. But publications have U-turned after what Gordon produced at the Azteca Stadium.
Praise from Sport
A report from Sport about the Mexico clash reads: "While Jude Bellingham provided the goals and Harry Kane the final touch, Anthony Gordon provided the wear and tear.
"The English winger turned the left flank into a one-way street, leaving Mexico no choice but to resort to fouls: he suffered four fouls, more than any other English player.
"Gordon's performance was pure persistence. He tried everything: inside, outside and into space, always with the same idea: to take on defenders. He attempted half a dozen dribbles, repeatedly looking to get behind the Mexican defence with his bursts of speed.
"No English run was as deep as his and he didn't even shy away from the dirty work, fighting for every loose ball like any other player. Mexico suffered against him on all fronts."
Mundo Deportivo's Acclaim
Mundo Deportivo also quickly sang the winger's praises. Its report stated: "For all those who thought Anthony Gordon was going to be the 'meme' of the World Cup, they got a dose of reality at the Azteca Stadium, where England produced a titanic effort to beat Mexico.
"The conditions were perfect for him to demonstrate his personality. After signing for Barca, Gordon was under intense scrutiny from the very beginning. His first two matches weren't good. He lost his starting spot to Rashford and the situation looked difficult.
"The third time as a starter, he got the Gordon Award, because the dazzling winger was vital in England's victory in one of the toughest matches of the World Cup so far.
"And it was alongside Jude Bellingham, the yin and yang, since one will wear the Barcelona colours next season and the other the white of Real Madrid. Team-mates now, rivals later."
Looking Ahead
With Spanish media evidently sheepish about their premature criticism of Gordon, the 25-year-old can further boost his reputation when England clash with Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
