In numbers – Barcelona new signing hits fine form ahead of World Cup | OneFootball

New Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon could hardly have asked for a better final performance before the World Cup.

The former Newcastle United man continued his strong form for England with an impressive display against Costa Rica, contributing a goal and an assist in 71 minutes.

While the goal and assist will always stand out in the headlines, the underlying numbers paint the picture of a player growing increasingly comfortable and influential.

Gordon finished the match with 36 touches and completed 19 of his 24 passes, showing efficiency in possession while regularly finding dangerous positions in the final third.

He also created a chance for a teammate and was never dispossessed, an indication of how secure he was whenever he received the ball.

A complete attacking performance

Gordon completed two of his four dribble attempts and won five of his seven duels, demonstrating the qualities that made him such an attractive target for Barcelona in the first place.

He also earned three fouls, repeatedly causing problems for Costa Rica’s defensive structure. Those numbers reflect a player who is actively creating situations through movement, aggression and intelligent decision-making.

Encouraging signs for Barcelona

Perhaps the most encouraging statistic from a Barcelona perspective is the balance in Gordon’s performance.

Alongside his attacking output, he recorded two ball recoveries and contributed defensively throughout his 71 minutes on the pitch.

Impressing for England. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

That willingness to work without the ball is something Hansi Flick places enormous value on. It was one of the major reasons he was preferred to some other winger targets.

Gordon is set to go head-to-head with Marcus Rashford for a starting berth on the left wing for the Three Lions.

Last night’s performance might have swung the pendulum in his favour, and it remains to be seen which of the two players ends up on Thomas Tuchel’s starting team sheet against Croatia.