Anthony Gordon is about to get the nod over Marcus Rashford for England’s Round of 16 match against Mexico. That’s the word from David Ornstein at The Athletic, and it makes sense when you look at what Gordon did in the previous round.
The Barcelona winger came off the bench against DR Congo and set up both of Harry Kane’s goals. Two assists in a knockout game will get you noticed. And England manager Gareth Southgate has apparently seen enough to hand Gordon his first start of this World Cup.
Rashford, who started the tournament as a first-choice option, will drop to the bench. It’s a notable shift for a guy who played under Southgate at Manchester United but has struggled for consistent form lately. The ex-Barcelona star (Rashford left Camp Nou in 2024) hasn’t quite recaptured his best level in an England shirt, and Gordon’s energy and directness off the bench against Congo made a strong case for a promotion.
Timing matters here
Gordon only joined Barcelona this summer, moving from Newcastle in a deal that raised some eyebrows. Critics questioned whether he could handle the step up to a club of that caliber. But he’s settled in quickly — three goals and four assists in La Liga so far — and now he’s knocking on the door for England in a World Cup knockout game.
England needed a comeback to get past DR Congo, trailing 1-0 at halftime before Kane’s brace turned it around. Gordon provided the spark. He drove at defenders, drew fouls, and delivered the kind of crosses that make Kane dangerous. That performance clearly stuck with the coaching staff.
What this means against Mexico
Mexico will have home crowd support and an aggressive defensive approach. They let in only one goal in the group stage and held Argentina scoreless for 75 minutes in their opener. Gordon’s pace and willingness to take on defenders one-on-one could be a useful weapon against a packed low block. Rashford tends to drift inside. Gordon stays wide and stretches the field.
Southgate hasn’t confirmed the lineup yet, but Ornstein’s track record on England team news is strong. Expect Gordon on the left, Jude Bellingham in the middle, and Bukayo Saka on the right. Kane up top. A front four that finally looks like it has genuine pace in attack.
Kickoff is early Monday morning Eastern time. If Gordon starts and delivers, this could be the moment he locks down that spot for the rest of the tournament.
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