Anthony Gordon has been working closely with England captain Harry Kane to enhance his goal-scoring abilities during the ongoing World Cup. The 25-year-old winger, who recently completed a £69.3 million transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona, played a pivotal role in England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16 by winning the decisive penalty that Kane successfully converted. This followed his key contributions in the earlier round against the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he provided two assists as England came from behind to secure a 2-1 win.

Despite his valuable contributions in creating opportunities, Gordon is eager to add goals to his international tally. “I love finishing. It’s a huge part of my game. I want to be a goalscorer and the only way I can truly get to where I want to be is by practising every single day,” Gordon said. He highlighted the lessons he has been learning from Kane, noting the striker’s proficiency in scoring with both feet and his ability to find the net regardless of the situation. “I’ve been trying to pick up little things from him,” Gordon added. “I’ve had a really good camp in terms of finishing and the drills. They’ve been going in, so I just hope it translates into the games.”

Gordon’s pace has been a notable asset for England throughout the tournament. He was recorded as the fastest player at the World Cup, reaching a speed of 35.7 km/h during the match against DR Congo. However, he acknowledged that his speed can sometimes be a challenge in front of goal. “Because I’m quick, sometimes my biggest battle is getting into the position and then slowing myself down. I can be moving so fast that everything speeds up,” he explained. “The best thing I can do is sprint to get into the position, then slow down, take a breath in the box and understand that now I control everything that happens, because the defender can’t touch me once I’m in the box.”

Gordon’s focus on refining his finishing skills comes as England aim to progress further in the tournament, relying on a blend of youth and experience among their attacking options. His collaboration with Kane underscores the team’s commitment to developing their offensive threats as they pursue World Cup success.