Anthony Gordon has urged England’s national team to maintain their focus ahead of their upcoming quarter-final match against Norway, cautioning against distractions tied to future stages of the tournament. Speaking ahead of the game scheduled for Miami, Gordon emphasized the importance of concentrating on the present challenge rather than looking ahead to the World Cup final.

The 25-year-old Barcelona forward stressed that dwelling on potential outcomes, such as winning the trophy or receiving medals, could derail the team’s progress. Instead, he underscored prioritizing the process and the quality of play. “It is a massive opportunity but the way you do things is important,” Gordon said, adding that the style of play England has exhibited thus far is resonating positively with supporters, and preserving that approach is critical moving forward.

Gordon also highlighted the necessity of moving past England’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 round in Mexico City. That win was secured through a combination of a quick-fire double from Jude Bellingham and a penalty converted by Harry Kane after Gordon himself was fouled inside the box. However, both Gordon and manager Thomas Tuchel have urged players to shift their attention to the quarter-final. Gordon acknowledged the emotional high of the match but insisted that the team must focus on the upcoming game. “We really need to move on from that,” he said. “It was an amazing memory, some great moments made, but in reality that’s not what we came here for, just to win that game.” He added that after the day’s interviews, he aligned closely with Tuchel’s directive to avoid discussing the Mexico fixture further.

Regarding Norway, Gordon was not taken aback by the Scandinavian side’s 2-1 upset victory over Brazil in the last 16. He noted that while Brazil’s reputation suggested they should have advanced, the Norwegian squad’s ability to change games rapidly was well recognized among England players. “There have been quite a lot of upsets so far in the World Cup, so some of us expected Norway to win. I was one of them,” he said. Gordon described Norway as a significant threat and reiterated the need for England to remain fully focused, which he sees as the reason to “try and kill this Mexico game” mentally and move forward without distraction as they prepare to face the Norwegians.