‘We’re English, We Have Our Own Strengths’ – Gordon Urges England to Stop Copying Spain

Anthony Gordon says England shouldn't keep trying to play like Spain, arguing that controlling matches through possession simply isn't part of the English game, ahead of the Three Lions' first match together since the World Cup, against world champions Spain on Saturday.

England reached their best World Cup finish since 1966 this summer, beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match after losing 2-1 to Argentina in the semi final. That defeat drew criticism though, after head coach Thomas Tuchel took off goalscorer Gordon and switched to a back five, a change that invited pressure and ultimately led to Argentina scoring twice late on, including a stoppage time winner from Lautaro Martinez.

Gordon admitted the loss hit him hard, but believes it could end up benefiting England 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. "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, who joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m over the summer, says training and playing alongside Spanish players has given him a clearer sense of just how different their approach to the game really is. He doesn't think English players can simply be coached into playing Spain's possession-heavy style.

"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? Because the Spanish players lack the things that we have and vice versa."

England have now lost back to back European Championship finals and been beaten in their last two World Cups by France and Argentina, results that have repeatedly raised questions about whether the team can control games against top opposition. Spain, by contrast, dominated the World Cup final with 65 per cent possession and restricted Argentina to just two shots in 120 minutes, neither on target.

Gordon doesn't think Spain's style is something England can simply copy. "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's semi final goal capped off a strong tournament for the 25 year old, who started five games for England and picked up four assists along the way. He was substituted just 17 minutes after scoring against Argentina and admitted he was surprised by the decision.

"It makes me feel on top of the world, especially in that moment on that stage. I felt really good," he said of scoring. "But as a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It's normal. 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."

England had needed a battling 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16, played with ten men for over 35 minutes following Jarell Quansah's red card. Gordon suggested that result may have shaped the team's mindset going into the Argentina game, and admitted the squad didn't always match in matches what they were producing in training.

He defended Tuchel's more cautious approach against Argentina, which drew criticism both outside and within the camp.

"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."