England's Chris Gordon to Face Father Colin's Argentina at…

England goalkeeper Chris Gordon will line up against his father, Colin, when England meet hosts Argentina at the Powerchair Football World Cup in Buenos Aires on Sunday, with Colin coaching the Argentine side. The family split adds a personal edge to the group-stage fixture.

Colin Gordon is a former professional striker who played for clubs including Birmingham City, Fulham and Leicester City in the 1980s and 1990s before becoming an agent. He later coached England, guiding them to the 2023 World Cup final, where they lost on penalties to France.

Chris, who lives in Kidderminster and is at his fourth World Cup, said he and his father had worked together at West Brom and with the national team. He told BBC Sport he expects England to win and the bragging rights to be his.

Powerchair football is a four-a-side sport for players with impairments such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spinal muscular atrophy. It is played on a basketball court with a larger ball and powered wheelchairs fitted with front bumpers to shoot, pass and dribble. England has two top divisions and regional leagues, with leagues also in Scotland and Ireland and developing teams in Cardiff and Wrexham.

Ten teams, from hosts Argentina and neighbours Uruguay to Australia and Japan, are competing. Matches start on Saturday and the final is on Friday 23 October, with all games streamed live on YouTube.

England are among the favourites alongside France and the USA. Captain Jon Bolding, at his fifth World Cup, said winning would mean a great deal after years of trying, noting the team won the 2019 Euros and this is the only title missing. Winger Dan McLellan, 17, is at his second tournament and believes the squad can reach the final. Head coach Adam McEvoy said the competition will be the toughest yet but sees no reason England cannot go deep.

Source: BBC Sport

Image: Damon Thomson via WBA PFC / BBC Sport