FANS have praised Anthony Gordon for his “refreshingly raw” interview following England’s draw with Slovenia.
England again struggled to create opportunities after drawing 0-0 in Cologne.
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The draw put England top of the group, despite a lackluster performance, and will ensure they face the group’s third-placed team in the round of 16.
Gordon came on as an 89th-minute substitute as England tried to find a late winner.
Despite some runs down the left wing, he didn’t get enough time on the field to affect the game.
Speaking to the BBC Afterward, Gordon said, “It’s frustrating because I want to play. I think every player here does. It’s difficult because you have so many good players.
“But watching from the sideline in any game, at any level, is difficult. You just want to get on the field because you feel like you can make an impact.
“I felt like I did when I walked in. I tried to reach people and be direct and cause problems in the few minutes I had. And I’ll always try to do that.”
He also said the team as a whole is not “clicking.”
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The Newcastle winger said: “I think our aim was to make a statement and correct the performance we’ve had in the last two games. I still think we’re in that position. I think we still have to do better,” he said.
“I think we can do so much better. That’s the problem. We have such good players. In training, we are so good every day. We do everything right. And then it doesn’t work out. Hopefully in the next games, it will be because we need to start really attack teams and dominate games.
England player ratings: Southgate’s Gallagher experiment fails miserably against Slovenia
ENGLAND produced another dismal performance – but still managed to top Group C.
England dominated the ball but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third successive uninspired display.
SunSport’s Tom Barclay gave his assessments of the English players.
Jordan Pickford – 6
Largely a spectator due to England’s dominance on the ball. He asked the sideline what Denmark’s score was during a second-half break.
Kieran Trippier-6
The only positive point about having a right-handed player playing at left-back is that he can deliver crosses, and one of those should have been headed in by Conor Gallagher before half-time.
Marc Guehi-7
Cruyff’s early turn showed his confidence in excellent displays against Serbia and Denmark, and barring a dropped pass it was good again.
John’s Stones – 6
One of many who missed the target with his pass. It wasn’t bad but, like others, a far cry from what he produced for his club.
Kyle Walker – 5
He played very confidently, rarely trying to advance. At one point I was lucky that Pickford was aware of his return blast. Cruz cut after the break summed up his night off.
Conor Gallagher-4
He received the nod after the trial of midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold ended, but had little possession of the ball, mainly, and was replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.
Declan Rice – 7
He had promised an “in-your-face” performance from his team, but he was actually the only one to produce it. Very good in terms of ball possession, much better than against Denmark.
Phil Foden-7
England’s liveliest forward four by a mile and went close with a free kick. Announced by dissent, summing up England’s frustration.
Jude Bellingham-5
He looked very frustrated as he and Harry Kane got in each other’s way at times, while he was often sent wide to the left when Phil Foden moved into the middle.
Bukayo Saka-6
He hit the target in the 20th minute, but it was disallowed for offside in the build-up. OK, but again replaced after the break, perhaps due to physical problems.
Harry Kane – 6
He insists he is 100% in shape and maybe he is. What is 100 percent certain is that he has not been as effective in this tournament as he normally is for England, although he has been a little better here.
Substitutes
Kobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7
He made a difference at the start, making England much more positive in their game. Much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.
Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka in ’71) – 7
He finally showed up in this tournament and a clever pass to Mainoo showed what he can do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier at 84) – 6
He entered the final minutes at right-back, with Walker moving to left-back.
Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden in 88) – 6
Like Palmer, first few minutes at Euros, but too late to make an impact.
“I don’t think it’s nerves,” he added. “I mean, we’ve all been playing on big stages for a while now. So I don’t think nervousness is the best thing to attribute. I just think football is like that sometimes.
“I think we are controlling games very well, we keep the ball well, but that direct approach, causing problems and attacking teams is probably what we are missing.
“And you see at the end of the game [against Slovenia]We created a really good chance just by trying and not worrying about losing the ball.”
Fans on social media loved the honesty of the interview, with one saying: “Very refreshing interview telling it like it is.”
Another said: “First England player to speak a bit, Anthony Gordon.”
A third wrote: “Refreshingly honest and accurate answers from Gordon. Like us, he’s watching, can see where the problems are. Knows what’s needed, can be one of the players that brings it.”
A fourth said: “You know what, they sent a young man who played 5 minutes the entire tournament to do an interview and he was the most honest and correct.”
England need superhero Bellingham back to have any chance of winning Euro 2024
JUDE BELLINGHAM gave a masterful superhero performance in the first 45 minutes of Euro 2024, writes Charlie Wyett.
However, we haven’t seen much of the Wonder Boy since then.
Perhaps he left the cape in the Gelsenkirchen locker room and is still looking for it.
But he needs to find out in time for this weekend’s round of 16 tie, otherwise England will be exhausted.
Approaching the serious part of Euro 2024, this team really needs to get its act together and start showing some personality.
At times against Slovenia, Bellingham looked lost.
Let’s hope he can spread some stardust in the knockout stages, because Gareth Southgate certainly needs something.
Bellingham should be fine. This could still be FROM HIM tournament.
Read Charlie Wyett’s verdict between England and Slovenia in full.
Or check out all of Charlie’s Euro 2024 stories.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
