Anthony Gordon starred as England stepped up their World Cup preparations with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in their final official friendly before the tournament.
A thunder and lightning storm soaked the surface in Orlando forcing a one-hour delay to kick-off. England’s performance wasn’t quite so dramatic but there were encouraging signs for Thomas Tuchel a week out from their World Cup opener with Croatia.
Gordon was the standout of those. The new Barcelona winger is full of confidence and showed his speed and directness to run around the Costa Rica defence and cut the ball back for Declan Rice’s deflected opener.
Declan Rice celebrates scoring for England against Costa Rica
Gordon then thumped in a second-half penalty to underline his form. He looks to have won the battle with Marcus Rashford for the left-wing spot against Croatia.
Ollie Watkins then stepped off the bench to poach a late third for an England side which played with more intensity than they did in Saturday’s win over New Zealand. They should have won by more against a scrappy Costa Rica who failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Noni Madueke’s first-half miss was a shocker, shooting against the post with the goal gaping, while sub Morgan Rogers squandered a big chance of his own with 15 minutes to play. It was, though, his parried shot by replacement goalkeeper Abraham Madriz which fell into Watkins’ path.
England’s Noni Madueke hits the post with the goal gaping against Costa Rica
Rogers may fear he’s lost the No 10 shirt to Jude Bellingham, who caught the eye with his fantastic pass for Madueke’s big chance and dribbled past four defenders in the build-up to Eberechi Eze winning Gordon’s penalty.
In another nod to his standing in this team, Bellingham took the captain’s armband when Harry Kane went off amid a wave of substitutions after Tuchel had given his strong starting XI an hour.
In that first 60 minutes, Rice, playing his first minutes of the camp after joining up late due to Arsenal’s Champions League final, looked immediately up to speed, while full-backs Reece James and Nico O’Reilly looked comfortable. The centre-back pairing of John Stones and Ezri Konsa – with Marc Guehi surprisingly on the bench – was untested.
At the other end, Kane was heavily involved, playing a delicious pass which led to Gordon going down in the box late in the first half, although a VAR review led to ref Katja Koroleva overturning her initial penalty award. There was no goal for the skipper this time, despite him testing starting ‘keeper Patrick Sequeira with a similar header to the one he scored against New Zealand.
Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring England’s third goal against Costa Rica
With fresh legs through the team and players with a point to prove, England pinned Costa Rica back in the final stages, searching for more rewards. Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo and Rogers again all had sights at goal.
England will continue their World Cup preparations with a behind-closed-doors match with local side Miami FC on Thursday. They look to be on a positive trajectory.
Gordon: I love the pressure of penalties
Anthony Gordon speaking to ITV:
“There’s always pressure when playing for England, as you know there are great players waiting to come on from the bench and make their impact. If you can’t deal with that then you’re at the wrong level. I’m playing with amazing players so they make me look much better.”
On the penalty: “I was buzzing H [Kane] was off, I was trying to find him but when I knew he was off, I wanted to take it. I love the pressure of penalties.”
In pictures: Thunder and lightning storm forces hour-long delay
The pitch in Orlando was soaked before England vs Costa Rica by a lightning storm
A thunder and lightning storm hit Orlando ahead of England’s friendly with Costa Rica
The Orlando pitch was soaked by a thunder and lighting storm ahead of England vs Costa Rica
The view from Orlando: Slick, pacy, energetic England impress
Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett:
“The pedantic will argue, correctly, that England should have scored more goals. That they didn’t ruthlessly put a poor Costa Rica to the sword earlier. That is true.
“But there was much more for Thomas Tuchel to savour than the three goals for Rice, Gordon and Watkins. England were slick, pacy, energetic throughout. They pressed high and effectively, despite the heat and humidity.
“Bellingham was outstanding again, and is surely now going to pip his mate Morgan Rogers for the No 10 spot.
“Stones was stylish, as you’d expect, and has further enhanced his standing in the side. But probably the standout man was Anthony “Barcelona” Gordon, who made one and scored one (emphatically from the spot) and he was England’s most direct threat throughout.
“He has surely given Tuchel some real doubts about whether Rashford is truly England’s first-choice left winger.
“Eze had a nice cameo and looked very sharp in the closing minutes too.
“No apparent injuries, despite some hefty Costa Rica challenges. And I think Tuchel will reflect on a very good day’s work.
“Next up, the World Cup proper. Bring it on.”
What’s next?
The World Cup begins! Mexico vs South Africa is the tournament opener on Thursday 11 June; kick-off 8pm UK time.
England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia, with their opening Group L clash kicking off at 9pm in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday June 17.
