It was not quite the night Anthony Gordon had hoped for with England, despite the Three Lions securing an impressive victory in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. While Barcelona\u2019s new signing was expected to make an impact, another moment completely shifted the focus and placed a different name firmly in the spotlight.<\/p>\n
The twist was that the player who had initially been expected to play a supporting role ended up becoming one of the biggest talking points, after making the most of his limited minutes and creating a comparison with Gordon that Spanish media were quick to pick up on.<\/p>\n
Anthony Gordon started for England against Croatia in a match the Three Lions won 4-2, but he was unable to make a direct contribution to any of England\u2019s four goals under manager Thomas Tuchel. Several Spanish media outlets focused on the Barcelona winger\u2019s performance, suggesting that he lacked the sharpness and creativity expected from him and describing some of his movements as too predictable.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford came off the bench and needed only a short period of time to make his presence felt. The former Barcelona player replaced Gordon in the 72nd minute before scoring England\u2019s fourth goal, a moment that inevitably intensified the comparison between the two players.<\/p>\n
Rashford had enjoyed a successful spell at Barcelona last season, playing an important attacking role during his loan spell. That made Barcelona\u2019s decision not to activate the permanent purchase option, reportedly worth around \u20ac30 million, a subject of discussion, particularly after the club moved for Gordon.<\/p>\n
\nThe irony is that Gordon arrived at Barcelona as the player chosen to fill the void, but the opening stages of the World Cup have brought Rashford back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Barcelona completed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle as part of the club\u2019s plans to reshape its attacking options. The England international arrived at Camp Nou with significant expectations, particularly after revealing that playing for Barcelona had been a childhood dream. His arrival also attracted attention when he demonstrated his ability to speak Spanish during his presentation.<\/p>\n
However, his performance against Croatia has once again raised questions about how quickly Gordon can establish himself at Barcelona, particularly given the competition for places in the club\u2019s attack. At the same time, Rashford\u2019s influential cameo from the bench has given the comparison between the two players even greater prominence in Spanish media.<\/p>\n
It is important to stress that one international match is not enough to judge Gordon\u2019s Barcelona career. The winger has only just arrived at the club, and expectations surrounding him are already high because of the transfer and the role he is expected to play under Hansi Flick. His true impact will ultimately be judged by his performances for Barcelona rather than by a single appearance for England.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the situation has opened a debate that could continue to follow Barcelona: was choosing Anthony Gordon instead of keeping Marcus Rashford the right decision?<\/p>\n
There is no definitive answer at this stage. But Rashford\u2019s impact against Croatia has given the comparison fresh fuel and placed additional attention on Gordon ahead of the start of his Barcelona career.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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