Anthony Gordon has found himself at the centre of England’s selection debate after a difficult night in the Three Lions’ goalless draw against Ghana at the FIFA World Cup.
The Barcelona winger started his second consecutive group match under manager Thomas Tuchel but struggled to make a significant impact as Ghana produced a disciplined defensive performance in Boston.
Gordon was eventually replaced in the 65th minute, with Bukayo Saka introduced as England searched for a breakthrough.
The substitution has increased speculation over whether the former Newcastle United forward will retain his place when England return to action.
Former England defender Gary Neville believes Gordon is now facing the biggest battle for his position within Tuchel’s squad.
“Anthony Gordon — he’s probably the one that’s under the most pressure now,” said Neville speaking on the Stick to Football podcast.
“We all thought he probably wouldn’t play today. We thought that maybe Marcus [Rashford] would come in or something like that, but he [Gordon] stayed on.
“I think he’s under pressure now. I think he’s the one that’s going to find it a little bit difficult to keep his spot.”
Neville’s comments were supported by former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, who suggested the pressure on Gordon has increased following the draw.
“Now he’d [Gordon] be under huge pressure,” Keane said.
England remain in a strong position despite failing to claim victory against Ghana.
The result kept Tuchel’s team unbeaten in the group stage and they are close to securing qualification for the knockout rounds.
However, attacking consistency remains a key focus as England prepare for their next challenge.
Gordon’s performance has opened the door for other attacking options, with Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka among those capable of replacing him in the starting lineup.
Rashford already made an impact after coming off the bench in England’s opening match against Croatia, scoring shortly after entering the pitch.
Saka also impressed after being introduced against Ghana, offering more attacking movement from the wide areas.
For Gordon, the challenge now is responding on the pitch. His energy and direct running remain valuable qualities, but competition for places in England’s attacking department is intense.
With the knockout stage approaching, Tuchel will have difficult decisions to make as he looks to build a balanced side capable of competing for World Cup success.
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