Anthony Gordon strengthened his case for a starting place at the World Cup as England beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their final warm-up match before next week’s Group D opener against Croatia in Dallas.
England manager Thomas Tuchel selected a strong side and offered a clear indication of his thinking ahead of the tournament. The biggest selection call saw Jude Bellingham start in the No. 10 role ahead of Morgan Rogers, while Gordon got the nod over Marcus Rashford on the left flank.
England controlled possession from the opening whistle and pinned Costa Rica deep inside their own half. Gordon played a central role in that dominance. The Newcastle winger repeatedly attacked right-back Shawn Johnson and created England’s opening goal with a powerful run to the byline. His cut-back found Declan Rice, whose shot found the far corner.
Bellingham also impressed. The midfielder set the tone with aggressive pressing and linked effectively with captain Harry Kane. England’s midfield moved the ball quickly and consistently stretched Costa Rica’s defensive shape.
Gordon added England’s second goal from the penalty spot after the break. The goal capped an energetic display that combined direct running, pace and relentless pressing. His performance offered Tuchel a timely selection headache before the Croatia match.
England could have scored more. Noni Madueke missed a clear one-on-one opportunity after Bellingham released him behind the defence. Kane also tested goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira with a first-half header.
Substitute Ollie Watkins completed the scoring late on. Morgan Rogers forced a save and Watkins reacted quickest to convert the rebound.
The match started an hour late after heavy rain, thunder and lightning affected conditions around the stadium. Once play began, however, England never lost control. Their intensity remained high despite the humid conditions, and Costa Rica struggled to mount any sustained attacks.
With Croatia next on the schedule, Tuchel received encouraging signs from several key players. Gordon, in particular, ensured he remains firmly in the conversation for a place in England’s starting XI.
