England captain Harry Kane said that Anthony Gordon is “showing he belongs” to the highest levels, after the winger continued his impressive form with his country during the 2-0 win away to the Czech Republic.
Gordon scored a goal last Saturday in the match that England lost to Spain 3-2 at Wembley Stadium in an exciting match European Nations League The opening match for the Three Lions.
And it was the Barcelona man who broke the deadlock on Tuesday as Thomas Tuchel’s men bounced back in Prague, meeting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant cross from the right wing with a curling header less than two minutes into the second half to put England ahead against a Czech side who had Pavel Sulke sent off in the first half.
The goal made it a third in Gordon’s last three appearances for England, with the former Newcastle United player putting the team ahead in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
Kane then doubled England’s lead to put the match beyond doubt with his 123rd international goal.
But the Bayern Munich talisman reserved the praise for Gordon when he spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after the match.
“He shows that he belongs at the highest level, for Barcelona and England,” Keane said.
He added: “His performance in the last two matches was some of his best in an England national team shirt, and I think he is just enjoying wearing the shirt and being one of the main men in the team.”
“He is an important player for us and he showed that during the World Cup.”
Gordon would regularly combine very well on the left side with former Newcastle team-mate Lewis Hall.
Both Hall and Alexander-Arnold were left out of the World Cup squad before being called up for the first international break of the new season.
Tuchel expressed his admiration for the performance of both full-backs.
Speaking to ITV, Tuchel said of the duo: “They are both good. The position in the second half suited Trent more than it did in the first half. Lewis was excellent on the other side.
He added: “I thank them all because they deserved it, and now it is important that we relax and enjoy the evening, recover well and then prepare for Croatia.”
The absence of Real Madrid defender Alexander-Arnold from Tuchel’s England squad has drawn regular criticism.
Before Tuesday’s match, Alexander-Arnold’s last appearance with his country was against Andorra in the World Cup qualifiers in June of last year.
In further praise of his performance on his return, Tuchel added to 5Live: “He performed very well. He had an excellent assist. Overall, like everyone (he) was professional, high attitude and decisive action.”
