Gordon says Premier League demands left England players drained
Anthony Gordon believes England’s Premier League contingent face a greater physical burden at major summer tournaments, after fatigue became a central issue in the aftermath of the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Premier League intensity under scrutiny after England exit
England’s tournament ended painfully against Argentina, with the side’s inability to retain possession and manage the closing stages drawing comparisons with Spain’s more controlled approach. Thomas Tuchel identified tiredness as one factor in the collapse, following a demanding run through the competition.
The quarter-final victory over Norway went to extra time in Miami’s heat, while wins against Congo DR and Mexico had also carried an emotional cost before the semi-final. Gordon, who plays his club football for Newcastle, said the demands of the English domestic game can leave players carrying more accumulated fatigue by the latter rounds of an international tournament.
“I think that would probably be a fact,” Gordon said. “I don’t know the stats, but I think for sure because in England, I’m not saying there is an easy game in any other leagues, but every game is as hard as the next.
“Playing Arsenal is the same as playing a newly-promoted side. That’s the difficulty of the Premier League. Every game is so intense. Anyone can win a game.”
Gordon pointed to Hull’s early-season form after promotion, noting that they had remained unbeaten until meeting Newcastle. For him, that underlined the depth and unpredictability of the division.
“That shows the strength of the Premier League, the strength of the English game,” he said. “For English players competing in the Premier League, it would be much harder on the body than for players elsewhere.”
The substitution that changed the semi-final
Gordon’s own withdrawal remains one of the major talking points from the Argentina defeat. He had given England a 1-0 lead but was replaced by a defender only 16 minutes later, a change followed by a rapid loss of control in the match.
- England reached the semi-final after extra time against Norway in Miami.
- Emotionally demanding wins over Congo DR and Mexico added to the physical load.
- Gordon put England ahead against Argentina.
- Sixteen minutes after scoring, he was taken off for a defender.
- England’s performance deteriorated as Argentina turned the match around.
The decision, and the broader question of whether England should seek greater possession control or play with the intensity associated with the Premier League, will remain part of the post-tournament assessment.
Gordon uses writing to process defeat
For Gordon, the semi-final was difficult enough to require several pages in his personal diary. The forward said writing has long been his preferred way to make sense of major moments in his career, even if others use different methods.
“It was more than one page, I can tell you that,” he said. “Maybe not consistently, but I always like to write things down. It just makes you feel more clear.
“Everyone does that differently. Some people use laptops, while some people do not want to do anything. My way has always been to write it down. I like it because I can revisit it and eventually pass it on to my kids.”
He described the Argentina match as the most striking entry he has made, because he initially struggled to find the right words. Instead, he wrote down the raw emotions brought on by England’s elimination.
“The Argentina game was probably the most memorable one because I didn’t really know what to write,” Gordon said. “I wrote down the pure emotion of what I felt. I won’t go into it, but it was a good few pages.”
Key takeaways
- Gordon believes the Premier League’s week-to-week competitiveness places a heavier toll on players entering summer tournaments.
- Tuchel cited fatigue after England’s semi-final defeat, particularly following extra time against Norway in Miami.
- England’s wins over Congo DR and Mexico were also viewed as emotionally draining before the Argentina match.
- Gordon was substituted 16 minutes after scoring England’s opening goal in the semi-final.
- The Newcastle player has used his diary to process the disappointment of England’s World Cup exit.
