ANTHONY GORDON was gutted to make just one short appearance at Euro 2024.
The Newcastle winger went into the tournament in the form of his life – but England boss Gareth Southgate used him just once in Germany.
"What did the manager say about why you weren't selected?' 🤔
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 6, 2024
"Nothing really, I never really asked" 😶
Anthony Gordon speaking to @GabrielClarke05 about his Euro 2024 'disappointment' 🏴 pic.twitter.com/FL2wFpRlHs
GettyAnthony Gordon lifted the lid on being benched at the Euros[/caption]
PAGareth Southgate did not give him an explanation[/caption]
His only appearance came as an 89th-minute sub in the group stage bore draw against Slovenia.
Gordon said: “I was disappointed, because I believe in myself so much.
“I feel unstoppable, especially at that point of the season I had just had.
“I felt like no-one could defend me, no-one could deal with me over 90 minutes.
“I felt like I was ready to and really impress people and help the country win the trophy.
“To envision what I envisioned…to what it was, it was disappointing.”
Gordon neither received nor demanded an explanation from Southgate.
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Asked what the England boss had told him about the reasons for his lack of game time, Gordon told ITV: “Nothing, really. I didn’t never really ask.
“I’m not really that type of guy. I just like to get on with what I’ve got to do.
“I believe in myself, so even from the bench I was thinking, ‘If he brings me on, I’m going to be ready, I’m going to change the game’.
“But it didn’t happen.”
Gordon, 23, will be hopeful of having more chances to show what he can do under new interim England boss Lee Carsley.
The former Everton star was named Player of the Tournament after Carsley led the Three Lions’ to European Under-21 Championship glory last year.
Gordon then scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in 35 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last term, but still found himself sidelined at the Euros.
Southgate’s highs and lows as England boss
GARETH Southgate took charge of 102 games for England before quitting in the aftermath of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
But what were the best – and worst matches – from the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.
THE HIGHS:
Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World Cup
This was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.
Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.
It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.
Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations League
Following on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.
Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.
Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.
England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-final
Southgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.
Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.
Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.
England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16
England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.
The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France – what could go wrong?
Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023
On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.
It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.
England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-final
The nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.
Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane’s penalty drew us level.
And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.
AND THE LOWS….
Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018
Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.
But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.
Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.
Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 final
Will probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.
Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.
Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.
The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.
England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023
A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.
It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.
England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finals
Another case of what could have been.
Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.
We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.
Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.
But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out.