Advertisement
Gordon talks up 10-man England’s Azteca heroics despite Quansah’s red card
06th July, 2026 11:50 AM
England winger Anthony Gordon has opened up on the physical demands of playing at the Azteca Stadium after the ten-man Three Lions held on for a thrilling 3-2 World Cup Round of 16 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Monday, July 6, 2026.
The encounter was defined by the punishing high altitude and a packed, hostile stadium painted completely green by the rousing home support.
Thomas Tuchel’s side ultimately got the job done the hard way, battling valiantly with ten men after Jarell Quansah was sent off with a straight red card in the 54th minute.
The dismissal forced the Three Lions to endure a nervy end to the match, but they stayed resolute to survive a late barrage of Mexican forays and crawl over the line.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Gordon opened up about the tactical and physical shift the dismissal forced upon the team, admitting that everyone had to dig deep into their running reserves and chip in defensively.
Run more and defend
“It was difficult. The altitude in the first 20 minutes was tough. We are good players, we play at the top level, and that’s what we’re paid to do. We knew it would be tough—but big players step up in big moments. When we went a man down, I knew I had to be trustworthy and run more than ever.
“I want to be a player who is good at everything; whatever kind of game I am in, I want to change it. I try to do my best for the team, and hopefully, I’ve done that.”
Gordon was a constant threat in the first half and proved equally invaluable to the rearguard late on, dropping back to assist Djed Spence on defensive duties as England held out for a famous win.
The winger praised the squad’s mentality and attitude, terming it an indication of the team spirit within the team
“We focus on our process, how we play, and how we train,” Gordon added. “You can never fully control the outcome, but you can control how you react, and that’s serving us well so far,” he said.
“I think the magnitude of this win probably won’t kick in until this evening. To celebrate like we just did is a once-in-a-lifetime feeling. We spoke beforehand about this being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and atmosphere, but we also knew it was going to test us—and it did in the toughest way possible. We came through it, and that says everything about our character.”
