Ian Wright analysis on Anthony Gordon – On the money

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Anthony Gordon and England overwhelmed the Republic of Ireland a massive gulf in class saw the home side very lucky to escape with only a two goal defeat, as Lee Carsley’s side swiftly went 2-0 up inside 26 minutes and then cruised through the rest of the (mis-)match.

Ian Wright very impressed with what he saw.

The former England striker particularly impressed by Anthony Gordon, as he caused the Irish so many problems.

Hopefully Gareth Southgate squirming, after his clueless treatment of the Newcastle United star in the summer.

A massive relief as well for all England fans, no longer having to watch Southgate’s ultra negative football and misuse of so many talented players.

Carsley blowing that negativity away from the very start, playing Harry Kane up front and with three others very much in support. Anthony Gordon on the left, with Grealish in the middle and a bit of a free role, Saka on the right as usual.

With England pressing and giving them so little time, the Republic of Ireland side struggling to even get out of their own half a lot of the time. The home side only managing 23.6% possession, with one corner and just one effort on target in the entire match (BBC Sport stats).

Great to see such an emphasis on attack we can only wonder what would have been the case if Gareth Southgate had been in charge still, though for sure we know it would have been a far tougher watch.

Ian Wright speaking to ITV Sport about England and Anthony Gordon in particular, following the very easy 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland – 7 September 2024:

“Very, very impressive from England.

“I thought Ireland would have be a lot tighter to them… but saying that, they have been passing into [dangerous] areas.

“England passing it with pace and passing it through the lines.

“You saw that with the first goal, it was a brilliant run from Anthony Gordon.

“Even with Harry Kane in the middle, you are seeing somebody who is willing to run in behind, which is something we haven’t had in a while.

“Then you flood the box.

“A good effort from Harry Kane but then Declan Rice, who has been making that late break into the box all day, making those late runs, has come in again [for the first goal].

“It is the run from Anthony Gordon [that creates the goal].

“I think that Gordon should score the one on one).

“He did a great interview before the match about what he wanted to do and those chances he has to take.

“In the end, he (Anthony Gordon) got the ball back in [after the keeper saved his shot] and then bam, Declan scores a fantastic goal.”

This is the September 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 5 September

Azerbaijan 1 Sweden 3

Alexander Isak on fire in this Nations League match. Scoring the first two goals and then bizarrely denied his hat-trick.

Alexander Isak winning the penalty but instead of the Newcastle United striker taking the spot-kick to finish off a great personal match, it was Gyokeres who took the 80th minute spot-kick to put Sweden 3-0 up. The home side getting a consolation goal late on.

Estonia 0 Slovakia 1

Martin Dubravka getting a morale boosting clean sheet as the Newcastle United number two keeper helped his country to an opening Nations League group win, the winner coming on 70 minutes.

Friday 6 September

France 1 Italy 3

A stunning international comeback for Sandro Tonali.

France taking the lead after only 12 seconds but the Newcastle United midfielder superb, as he and his international teammates came back and blew the home side away in Paris. A very much deserved win for Italy and this Nations League victory set in motion with a stunning equaliser on 30 minutes, a sublime flick by Sandro Tonali followed by an arguably even better volley from Dimarco.

Uruguay 0 Paraguay 0

A great result for Miguel Almiron and his teammates in this World Cup group qualifier against the team that is second top. Paraguay restricting Uruguay to just one effort on target and Miggy playing 82 minutes before becoming one of a number of players subbed off late, as the visitors ran the clock down.

Brazil 1 Equador 0

A massive result for Bruno Guimaraes and his Brazil teammates, after they had lost their last three World Cup group qualifiers.

Ecuador had lost only one of their last five group qualifiers and were a tough nut to crack in a very dour defensive contest. Only five efforts on target between the two teams and Brazil winning thanks to a shot by Rodrygo on 29 minutes that deflected past the visiting keeper and went in off the post.

A good shift from Bruno in his more defensive midfield role than we see for Newcastle United, good to see the Brazil boss looking after him, as Bruno was one of a couple of players taken off after 62 minutes, leaving their teammates to see out this dour victory.

Northern Ireland U21s 0 England U21s 0

A drab game in Ballymena ended goalless, Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall coming on in the 69th minute of this U21 Euros group qualifier.

Turkey U21s 0 Republic of Ireland U21s 1

A really good result for the Republic of Ireland in this U21 Euros group qualifier, winning with an 84th minute goal. Newcastle’s Alex Murphy not in the matchday squad though, for unknown reasons.

Iceland U21s 4 Denmark U21s 2

It only took Will Osula 16 minutes to open the scoring in this U21s Euros group qualifier, however, the home side bouncing back to win 4-2 in the end.

Saturday 7 September

Republic of Ireland 0 England 2

The easiest of wins for England, going 2-0 up inside 26 minutes and then cruising the rest of the match, though still creating a lot of chances that if taken, could/should have heaped further humiliation on the home side.

A really refreshing change though compared to the misery of watching Southgate’s ultra negative football, as England looked to attack from the first whistle.

Nick Pope and Tino Livramento remained on the bench but Anthony Gordon was excellent. The only minor criticism was that he didn’t finish it himself when on 11 minutes his brilliant run in behind was found by Trent Alexander-Arnold. I reckon nine times out of ten he would score that for Newcastle, rather than giving the keeper a chance to save. However, Gordon showed great composure to seize upon the ball when Kelleher saved, he played it across to Harry Kane who didn’t make the most of it, but it fell kindly to Rice to lash home.

Gordon was one of England’s best players alongside Grealish and Rice, with the Arsenal player getting the second goal to wrap the victory up with only 26 minutes on the clock. The Republic of Ireland unable to handle the pace and trickery of Gordon, nor the Man City player.

Greece 3 Finland 0

(Odysseas Vlachodimos) Nations League

Sunday 8 September

Sweden v Estonia (Alexander Isak) Nations League

Slovakia v Azerbaijan (Martin Dubravka) Nations League

Monday 9 September

Israel v Italy (Sandro Tonali) Nations League

England U21s v Austria U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier

Tuesday 10 September

England v Finland (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League

Republic of Ireland v Greece (Odysseas Vlachodimos) Nations League

Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)