By Adegboyega Adeleye
England winger Anthony Gordon has urged the Three Lions to stop trying to replicate Spain’s possession-based style and instead play to their own strengths.
Gordon made the remarks while speaking at St George’s Park as England prepare to face world champions Spain on Saturday, their first match together since the 2026 World Cup.
England reached the World Cup semi-finals, where they lost 2-1 to Argentina before beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match to secure their best finish at the tournament since 1966.
The manner of the semi-final defeat, particularly England’s inability to control the game after Gordon was substituted and manager Thomas Tuchel switched to a back five, has prompted questions over the team’s tactical approach.
Gordon, who moved from Newcastle United to Barcelona for £69.3m in the summer, believes England should not try to imitate Spain after experiencing their football first-hand in La Liga.
“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, so maybe we start playing the way we’re good at,” Gordon said.
The 25-year-old said his experience playing in Spain had given him a better understanding of the differences between the two football cultures.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon 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? Because the Spanish players lack the things that we have and vice versa.”
Gordon also questioned whether England’s players could simply be taught to control matches in the same way as Spain.
“It’s not in the English DNA,” he said.
“I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught because now I think, playing in Spain, I can speak with an educated view on the way they keep the ball is different.
“I even look at some of the decisions they take on the ball sometimes and think I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.
“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.”
Gordon also reflected on England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, describing the experience as leaving a “scar” that could ultimately help the team in future tournaments.
“[The] scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” he said.
Gordon scored England’s goal against Argentina and started five matches at the World Cup, while also providing four assists.
He was substituted 17 minutes after putting England ahead but said the decision did not necessarily surprise him given the demands of his position.
“It makes me feel on top of the world, especially in that moment on that stage. I felt really good,” Gordon said.
“But as a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It’s normal [for wingers].
“Obviously that substitution was different but in that moment probably yeah, but in general as a winger I expect it a lot of the time.”
Gordon also defended Tuchel’s tactical decisions against Argentina, saying the players must accept responsibility for failing to take control of the match.
“We shouldn’t try and blame one man who’s obviously trying his best and trying to win the cup for us all,” Gordon said.
“As players, we could have done more to take the initiative to control the [Argentina] game. I think if we do that the manager doesn’t make the decision [to use a back five].
“For me, we had the best team, we had the best players on the pitch in that semi-final, and in the last 20 minutes we didn’t play the best football.
“That’s something the manager can’t really affect from the sideline, so I think as a group everyone together should take responsibility.”
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