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It ended England 2 Belgium 2, Anthony Gordon a late sub with ten minutes remaining as Gareth Southgate’s side trailed 2-1.
The Newcastle United winger ticked both boxes for me.
Anthony Gordon having impressed on his England debut against Brazil, must have known surely that so long as he didn’t mess up having come off the bench, he has surely booked his place on the plane to Germany this summer. As it happened, Gordon once again looking very lively and most importantly, carrying himself with confidence and looking very much like he belongs at this level.
That confidence and willingness to run at the opposition defence, as well as working hard at tracking back, will surely see him make the England Euros squad, especially considering how poor and indeed disinterested (Rashford!) some of his rivals look.
The other box that Anthony Gordon ticked for me, was not getting injured! With my Newcastle United head on, with the rain hammering down at Wembley and a potentially tricky surface, I was hoping Gormless Gareth would just let Gordon sit this one out. My ingrained NUFC fears though seemingly coming to nothing, as Gordon successfully navigated the 15 or so minutes including added time, without injury.
As for the match, I was laughing as the woeful Channel 4 coverage of appalling commentators and those in the studio went so overboard about this England performance. Indeed, I have also read and heard others in the media claiming this was a match with so many England positives.
They played ok at times but for me the hype is laughable, especially with (Manchester United’s!) Mainoo. He did ok, very decent considering he is still only 18, but claims he is now suddenly a brilliant player who must be on the plane to Germany and who even according to some should be in the starting eleven at the Euros, is ludicrous.
They were up against what is now an average at best Belgium side that was missing its best player in Kevin de Bruyne, a Belgium side who were lucky not to lose to a woeful Republic of Ireland team on Saturday, Ireland missing a penalty and Belgium only two efforts on target in a poor goalless draw.
Yet England at home lucky to draw against Belgium having trailed for most of the game, needing a fifth minute of injury time goal from Bellingham to save them. England overall looked poor for me a lot of the time despite the media hype, massively reliant on Bellingham to lift them. Rice did ok but is used (predictably!) so negatively by Southgate, whilst Mainoo as I said did ok, but no more.
Pickford woeful in giving away the opening goal, then lucky for England that Belgium gifted them an equaliser when giving away a daft penalty with a sliding challenge in the box on former NUFC striker Ivan Toney, who converted the spot-kick.
England though looking wanting with both defence and midfield, as Dunk allowed Lukaku to put in an admittedly brilliant cross from the right but shocking marking in the box as well as Tielemans had a free header.
I was pleased for Anthony Gordon to, in my opinion, definitely seal his trip to Germany this summer.
Whilst I was relieved for myself and Newcastle United that we should see him line up for NUFC against West Ham on Saturday, hopefully buzzing after proving himself with England.
Newcastle United internationals – March 2024:
Thursday 21 March
Portugal 5 Sweden 2
Emil Krafth arriving as a 60th minute sub with Sweden already 4-1 down and Alexander Isak playing the full match but not getting on the scoresheet. The friendly taking place in the Portuguese city of Guimaraes. This was also the first game for Sweden with former Newcastle United striker Jon Dahl Tomasson in charge, after he took over in late February 2024 after leaving Blackburn.
Friday 22 March
Poland U20s 1 England U20s 5
Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley started and starred in this 5-1 England Elite League hammering of Poland. The NUFC duo subbed off in the 72nd and 78th minutes respectively when England were 4-0 up, before both sides scored in the closing stages. Seventeen year old Lewis Miley was making his England Elite League debut.
Saturday 23 March
England 0 Brazil 1
An entertaining match for an England friendly, as Newcastle United duo Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes both put in very good performances. The pair subbed on 75 and 78 minutes respectively having impressed, not so impressive the England defending as finally Bruno took advantage with an 80th minute Endrick winner.
Anthony Gordon surely having now booked his place on the plane to Germany this summer, whilst Bruno pulled the strings for Brazil in midfield, where he is now a regular first team starter.
Denmark 0 Switzerland 0
A welcome return to the Switzerland starting eleven for Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar, playing the full 90 minutes on the right of a three man defence, helping to restrict the home side to only two efforts on target.
Slovakia 0 Austria 2
An even game but after Martin Dubravka and his teammates conceded in the first six seconds, they couldn’t find a way back into this match. As they pressed for the equaliser, conceding a second goal late on.
Monday 25 March
Russia v Paraguay
Miguel Almiron and his international teammates seeing the friendly cancelled following the terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow on Friday.
Sweden 1 Albania 0
A successful night for Emil Krafth and Alexander Isak, as the Newcastle United duo both started in this friendly win. Isak playing the full match and Krafth subbed off with four minutes to go.
Tuesday 26 March
England 2 Belgium 2
A poor display from England against what is now a very average Belgium side. Anthony Gordon brought on with 80 minutes gone and England 2-1 down, the NUFC winger reinforcing the impression he’d made on his debut against Brazil. Gordon not playing a direct part in the equaliser but looking good again, every lively and willing to run at the Belgium defence, as well as tracking back.
Czech Republic U20s 1 England U20s 3
Disappointing news that Lewis Miley was ruled out of this England Elite League win due to a back injury, with Eddie Howe awaiting news on scans. However, a cracking showing from Newcastle United teammate Lewis Hall. Introduced in the second-half with the score 1-1 and England struggling as they looked likely to lose this, Hall then turned the direction of the game with two quality assists for Tottenham striker Dane Scarlett.

 
