England forward Anthony Gordon has called on his national team to abandon efforts to mimic Spain’s playing style, arguing that controlling possession is not part of the English “DNA.” The Barcelona winger spoke ahead of Saturday’s match against the world champions, which marks the Three Lions’ first fixture since concluding their World Cup campaign.
England ended the tournament with a bronze medal victory over France, securing their best finish since 1966, but their run was halted in the semi-finals by a 2-1 defeat to Argentina. The loss sparked significant debate after head coach Thomas Tuchel substituted Gordon and shifted to a back-five formation, a tactical change that invited pressure and allowed Argentina to score twice in the final stages.
Gordon, who netted the opening goal in the semi-final, admitted he felt “never worse” after being substituted just 17 minutes after scoring. However, he suggested the pain of that exit could serve as motivation for future tournaments.
“The scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” Gordon said. “We can’t keep looking at other countries and trying to be like them, because we’re not them – we’re English and we have our own strengths which they don’t have.”
Having moved to Barcelona from Newcastle United for £69.3m in the summer, Gordon feels his time in La Liga has highlighted the fundamental differences between the two footballing cultures. He questioned the logic of attempting to force English players into a Spanish mold, noting that each nation possesses distinct qualities.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” he said. “Because I’m in Spain, I know we have just as good players, but they have different qualities, so why are you trying to make those players the same as the Spanish players?”
Spain’s dominance in the recent World Cup, particularly their 65% possession figure in the final against Argentina, has fueled criticism that England lacks the ability to control games at the highest level. Yet Gordon remains unconvinced that such an approach is suitable for his teammates.
“It’s not in the English DNA,” Gordon stated. “I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught… It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know whether it is something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built different.”
Reflecting on the semi-final, Gordon defended Tuchel’s tactical decisions but shared responsibility with the squad. He argued that if England had maintained their training-standard performances, they would have dominated the match, potentially preventing the need for defensive adjustments.
“We shouldn’t try and blame one man who’s obviously trying his best,” Gordon said. “As players, we could have done more to take the initiative to control the game. I think if we do that the manager doesn’t make the decision [to use a back five].”
The 25-year-old also recalled the gritty 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, where England played with ten men for over half an hour following Jarell Quansah’s red card. Gordon suggested that the physical and mental toll of that encounter may have influenced the team’s approach against Argentina, where he felt they failed to match the intensity they displayed in training.
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