From 'season over' to 'on the plane' as Anthony Gordon cashes in on his England sliding doors moment...

Gordon Seizes Euros Opportunity With England Against Brazil - Craig Hope's Analysis

Released: 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time, on March 24th, 2024 | Revised: 08:22 GMT, on March 24th, 2024

In England, the course of many careers has been determined by pivotal moments, like sliding doors swinging open or shut. Luck, especially in international events, doesn't always balance out over time. It can result in either great success or great failure, and the consequences can last a lifetime. Examples include iconic footballers Jimmy Greaves and Geoff Hurst.

Just a short while ago, concerns arose that Anthony Gordon's season might come to an abrupt end. Suffering a knee injury during the Chelsea match on a Monday evening, Newcastle's top man Eddie Howe expressed his worries, stating that the injury looked severe. However, to everyone's amazement, the very next day Gordon woke up feeling perfectly alright.

When Wednesday morning arrived, everything was the same - with no signs of swelling or injury. The Football Association was notified and by Thursday, he was chosen to be part of the England senior squad for the very first time. He was even given the opportunity to start against Brazil.

If we consider the lack of injury as fortunate, we also have to acknowledge that the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer were also lucky occurrences this week. It may not be the most optimistic viewpoint, but when opportunities arise, we must seize them. Gordon was faced with the task of ensuring he didn't let this chance slip away by closing the door behind him.

Nicky Shorey was the final player to have his official debut with the England team against Brazil, and that was in 2007. Shorey was positioned on the left back for Reading and managed to earn only one additional cap for the team. Gordon, based on his skills and performance, will surely get a lot more opportunities to be on the team, especially starting from this summer. As a result, his collection of caps, which is a symbol of his matches with the national team, will hopefully increase rapidly.

Anthony Gordon put on a dynamic display during England's loss against Brazil in a friendly match.

The soccer player on the wing was speedy and determined, creating two opportunities to score at the stadium in Wembley.

He was quick, determined, never inefficient, and almost scored two goals before the end of the first half. At this point, a goal is basically a guarantee for a spot on the German team, but he couldn't quite make it happen early in the second half. At this point, the 23-year-old had taken three out of England's five shots.

However, his partnership with Jude Bellingham may have grabbed the attention of Gareth Southgate. They were the most effective duo for England on the left-hand side. The only ones who seemed to be in sync with the Real Madrid superstar were Phil Foden and Bellingham. It's worth noting that the superstar continued to be his team's top performer.

While Bellingham may already have a guaranteed spot in the finals, there are a few others who are still trying to prove themselves during this audition season. The London Marathon is quickly approaching, but for individuals like Gordon, these next four days are crucial and require a quick-paced sprint.

Luckily, he's skilled in sprinting swiftly. Out of all the players on the current game roster, Gordon is the fastest in the Premier League this year. This ability to outpace slower competitors on an international level is priceless.

Ezri Konsa has entered the competition by performing his first appearance as a substitute for Kyle Walker, who got injured within 20 minutes. It was decided that the Aston Villa defender would defend the only player who is faster than Gordon, Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior of Bellingham. It's funny how fate works out sometimes.

He performed admirably, strengthening his eligibility for a position in the German team more effectively than Ben Chilwell on the opposite side. There aren't many fitting options available, so Chilwell will probably be picked for the finals team. However, his performance was full of mistakes and could potentially result in being benched. Similarly, Conor Gallagher from Chelsea had too much possession of the ball at times.

. In just under two weeks, there were concerns that Gordon's season might be over.

However, following his successful recovery without any inflammation, Gordon was selected for the first time in the senior squad of England.

. Ollie Watkins didn't seem to fit in with the Three Lions and he failed to take advantage of a significant chance.

Ollie Watkins still doesn't seem to fit in well when he plays for England. He only had one opportunity to score, which was tough, and unfortunately, he hit it too hard and it went over the crossbar. Next up, it's Ivan Toney's chance to show his worth in the Belgium game on Tuesday. It shouldn't be too difficult to do better than Watkins did.

Out of all of them, Gordon stood out the most. He didn't rudely shut the door behind him, instead he made sure to close it properly on the correct side.