Michael Owen doubts Anthony Gordon before Argentina semi
Michael Owen says England's wide attackers, including Anthony Gordon, have "not really worked" at the 2026 World Cup despite a semi-final run. The ex-striker doubts Gordon and Noni Madueke can match the impact Cole Palmer and Phil Foden might have offered, and urges Thomas Tuchel to start Bukayo Saka against Argentina.
England reached the last four after Jude Bellingham's extra-time brace sealed a 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway in Miami. Gordon set up the equaliser with a pass to Bellingham, but Owen told Goal.com that Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Gordon and Madueke have not delivered as expected.
Key Takeaways
- Owen told Goal that England's winger quartet has "not really worked" during the tournament.
- He is surprised Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were omitted from Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.
- Owen wants Bukayo Saka to start on the right wing against Argentina instead of Madueke.
- He believes the Bellingham-Tuchel debate has made England stronger ahead of Wednesday's semi-final.
- England must improve possession and defending to beat Lionel Messi's Argentina in Atlanta.
Why has Michael Owen criticised Anthony Gordon?
Speaking to Goal via Covers.com, Owen said he expected wide players to be England's strength at the tournament. Instead, Tuchel has yet to settle on a preferred pairing, and no winger has fully convinced.
Owen was "absolutely" surprised by limited rotation, noting Gordon had "drawn a blank" while Rashford saw few minutes. He argued Palmer and Foden should have offered fresh legs and new ideas, but Tuchel has largely stuck with a settled team.
Should Thomas Tuchel drop Noni Madueke for Argentina?
Owen told Metro he expects "one or two" changes for Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta. He believes the right-wing spot is where Tuchel should act, with Saka preferred over Madueke after his encouraging bench cameo against Norway.
"It feels too big a game to not have him starting," Owen said. Madueke started against Norway but was replaced by Saka at half-time. Owen also told Metro neither England nor Argentina have played to their potential, and England must find a better performance to reach the World Cup final.
Has the Bellingham-Tuchel saga hurt England's unity?
Tuchel called England's Norway display "sloppy" despite the win, prompting public debate with Bellingham. Speaking exclusively to GB News, Owen played down any rift and said the discussion has made the squad stronger.
He trusts Tuchel to manage in-game changes and believes players are ready for Argentina. Owen added England must keep the ball better, defend better and be "streetwise" against the reigning world champions. For more on how scrutiny shapes high-stakes narratives, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.
Can England's wingers deliver against Argentina?
Owen has questioned whether Gordon and Madueke can fill the void left by Palmer and Foden's absence from the squad. With Gordon's assist against Norway showing his vision but Owen noting he has otherwise "drawn a blank", the Newcastle winger faces renewed pressure.
Owen told GB News that Argentina pose a major threat and England must play smart to progress. His verdict raises the stakes for every tactical call Tuchel makes before kick-off in Atlanta.