Gordon hails England's World Cup brotherhood and reveals finishing lessons from Kane

Anthony Gordon has declared the current England squad the best group he has ever been part of, crediting a powerful sense of unity as a driving force behind their run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Speaking after England’s dramatic last-16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday, Gordon said the chemistry within Thomas Tuchel’s camp sets this squad apart from any he has previously experienced. “We have got an unbelievable group, the best England group I have been a part of by a country mile, in terms of chemistry, in terms of connection, not just on the pitch but off the pitch,” he said.

The Barcelona winger has been one of England’s most influential players in the tournament. Against the Democratic Republic of Congo he provided two assists for Harry Kane during a late turnaround, and against Mexico he won the decisive penalty that Kane converted to seal the win — a victory achieved with England reduced to 10 men for more than 40 minutes.

Tuchel has repeatedly spoken about building a “brotherhood” within the squad, and Gordon’s comments reflect that ethos. “In terms of standards off the pitch, we are holding each other accountable, which is really important for any team that wants to be successful,” he added.

Despite his creative output, Gordon is determined to sharpen his goalscoring instincts and has turned to Kane for guidance. “I love finishing, it’s a big part of my game, I want to be a goalscorer,” he said. “The only way I can truly get to where I want to be is by practising every single day. The more practice allows you to become free in the mind on game day.”

He revealed the specifics of what he has been learning from the England captain. “I have been speaking to H (Kane) and trying to gain as much knowledge as I possibly can because he can do it on both feet, doesn’t matter the angle, doesn’t matter off his touch, the ball finds a way into the net. I have been trying to pick up a little bit off him.”

England face Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday, with Gordon expected to play a central role as Tuchel’s side look to push deeper into the tournament.