Harry Kane Says Anthony Gordon Has Become a “Difference Maker” for England

Harry Kane says Anthony Gordon's move to Barcelona has turned him into a "difference maker" for England, after the Three Lions beat Czechia 2-0 in the Nations League on Tuesday.

England bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Spain with a win in Prague. Czechia had Pavel Sulc sent off in the first half, and Thomas Tuchel's side made the extra man count. Gordon broke the deadlock soon after the break, heading home a superb cross from Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Kane then added the second. It was Gordon's third goal in his last three games for England, and it came just months after his €70m (£60m) move from Newcastle to Barcelona.

Kane, the England captain, thinks the switch has given Gordon a big boost. "I think sometimes going to a big club like that gives you more self-belief, more confidence," he said. "You feel like you belong on the biggest stage and I think he's taken that into his England performances."

He was also full of praise for Gordon's play in the final third. "He was outstanding against Spain on Saturday, again today he was the difference maker," Kane said. "He was always looking to be direct and be the one to get us ahead and a great finish from him as well. A lovely ball by Trent, but those finishes aren't easy and he took it really well."

Kane had kind words for Alexander-Arnold too, who won his first England call-up since June 2025 after injuries hit the squad. 

"Trent's outstanding," Kane said. "The delivery, the passing range, the crossing but also today defensively he was outstanding. Trent just has to keep his head down, keep working hard."

Gordon has said before that he felt people saw him as just a pacey winger in the Premier League. His move to Spain was partly about showing there is more to his game, and his England form suggests it is working.

Kane, meanwhile, has 87 goals for his country and is closing in on Peter Shilton's England record of 125 caps. He is also heading toward 100 goals, though he does not want to get ahead of himself. 

"I don't like to think too far ahead, but of course it's getting closer," the Bayern Munich striker said. "You know, 100 goals for the national team would be something special without a doubt. It still feels like yesterday I just broke the record, and I was away in Italy getting that one."

England play Croatia away this Saturday, then host Czechia at Wembley next Tuesday. With Gordon and Alexander-Arnold both making their case, Tuchel has a nice problem to sort out when he picks his team.