Anthony Gordon on Euro 2024 lessons, tough Liverpool upbringing and why he will always succeed

Anthony Gordon has spent his whole life overcoming odds and expectations.

England winger Gordon says his tough upbringing in Liverpool made him the “strong character” that he is today. Therefore, Gordon has viewed setbacks in this tournament as just bumps in the road on the way to the ultimate goal of winning the World Cup.

Gordon smiles when he admits it started before a ball was kicked and Marcus Rashford was given the No.11 shirt ahead of him in the squad list. His tournament did not start well either but he was determined not to let this opportunity pass him by like in Euro 2004, when he made just one substitute appearance.

But Gordon has really come to the fore in the past two games - providing two assists as a super-sub against DR Congo and a brilliant display against Mexico - and his time feels like it has finally arrived.

Gordon said: “We kid ourselves that we play football to win. We want to win, of course, but we want to see who we can become. You chase elite success to see who you can become along the way. I have always been very intrigued mentally to see who I could become.

"I am from a very poor area, a very poor background, just a normal family and I have obviously made the journey to this level. I want to keep doing that.

“The reason I'll always do well is because my mentality towards disappointment is very good. I always react to disappointments well. The first two games didn't go how I dreamt of starting in a World Cup at all. I didn’t enjoy Euro 2024 at the time but it was good looking back now. I can use that for experience.

“When we got the numbers for the World Cup, I texted my agent and I'm not going to lie, listen, I wanted number 11. I’m not going to lie to you.

“But when I got number 18, I texted my agent and I said ‘it's actually a good thing because I get to put right in that number’ because in the Euros I was number 18 and I felt like it was a waste of a summer for me.

“So, I viewed this as an opportunity to make something special out of that number. First game, I just didn't touch the ball that much. That's fine. We won the game, whatever. Second game, I just thought I didn't play great. Ghana defended really well, that's fine.

“I wasn't playing to my individual strength and when I got the chance against Congo I just thought to myself ‘I'm not doing that, I'm going to do the things that got me here’ and obviously it paid off.”

Gordon had arguably his best game for England against Mexico and it feels his tournament has finally had lift-off. It also felt like a turning point for England.

After a slow start to the tournament, England are up and running. Now they face Norway with fresh confidence but also a defiance because that win in Mexico City - facing altitude, the home fans, weather delays and having Jarrel Quansah sent off - felt special.

Gordon said: “There was so much talk about the altitude and how it would affect us and I got to put that to bed and show it’s not physical, it’s mental. I said to the lads as soon as Jarell was sent off that it will be even sweeter when we win.

“Because I had a feeling. I just knew. I could feel it within in the group. I felt like we’d come through it.

“I think it would have been a special win regardless but when you throw all that in the mix and arrows in those circumstances, it makes it even more special.”

There is no getting away from it. Gordon’s main headline in Euro 2024 was when he fell off his bike and grazed his chin. This time, Gordon is relishing the opportunity to play under “unbelievable motivator” Thomas Tuchel and, for the manager, it is all about the team.

He added: “For me that is his biggest strength. In terms of the details of football he’s top level. But as a motivator, for me, the things he says really works for me. He uses different quotes and different sports and examples.

“It really works for me. He’s a really warm person and is always speaking to people, always hugging them, trying to get the best out of them.

“It’s a bit of everything. I don’t know this, but he seems very spiritual. So he uses that kind of thing. Basically everything is about the higher purpose, rather than focused on individuals.

“It’s not about individuals. It’s us killing our egos and putting ourselves beneath the end goal.

"Every one of his quotes, every motivational tactic, is all leading towards that.”