Roy Keane has backed Anthony Gordon to get the nod over Marcus Rashford for England's next game against Croatia. The former Manchester United captain said Gordon would, “you would think, get the nod” after a warm-up stretch that has done his case no harm at all.
Against New Zealand, Rashford played the first 45 minutes and Gordon replaced him at half-time. Against Costa Rica, Gordon started and scored a second-half penalty. That alone does not settle the selection, but it is a fair bit of evidence in his favour.
Why Gordon has the edge
Keane’s view is also backed by the recent numbers. Gordon’s last five club matches carry an average rating of 7.08, compared with Rashford’s 6.88. Gordon has also scored two goals in those five games, both of them coming when he has been used as an attacker rather than pushed into a deeper role.
That is probably why Keane spoke about players giving the manager a headache. He did not say Rashford was out of the picture, and there is no need to go that far. He did say Gordon looks the more convincing option right now, and the performances listed above support that.
Tuchel’s penalty mix-up adds to the selection picture
Thomas Tuchel also admitted England’s penalty order was unclear in the Costa Rica game. “It was a bit of a mix-up because of all the substitutions,” he said, adding: “It was our mistake, we didn't do it so we needed clarification on the pitch. But Anthony was the second taker on the sheet and he scored.”
That does not prove a wider tactical problem, but it does show how fluid the side still is while Tuchel works out roles. He also described the performance as “very good”, with “very good energy and intensity on the highest level”.
The bigger point is simple enough. Gordon has the form, the minutes and now the backing of Keane, while Rashford still has to force his way back into the discussion before England face Croatia.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →