Anthony Gordon says England should stop trying to copy Spain’s possession-based style and play to their own strengths instead. The Barcelona winger made the argument at St George’s Park, where the England squad prepare to face world champions Spain on Saturday — their first match together since the World Cup.
England reached the World Cup semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Argentina. They responded with a 6-4 bronze-medal win over France, ending their best World Cup finish since 1966.
Gordon’s World Cup Scar
Gordon was substituted 17 minutes after scoring in the semi-final, and Argentina equalised through Enzo Fernandez before Lautaro Martinez won it late. He described the aftermath as painful.
He believes England should stop looking at other countries and try to be like 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.”
Why Spain’s Style Isn’t His
Gordon moved to Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer. He says playing in La Liga has shown him how different Spain’s approach is.
“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?”
He is not convinced English players can be taught to play more like the Spanish, with their intricate possession-based game. “I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught,” he said. “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.”
A Different Way of Being Built
Gordon argues Spain’s style is not in England’s DNA. “It’s not in the English DNA,” he said. “I don’t know whether it is something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built different.”
He says Spain’s possession-based game is built into how they play.
The Semi-Final Substitution
Gordon’s goal in the semi-final capped an impressive tournament. He started five of England’s games and provided four assists.
He was surprised to be substituted after scoring against Argentina. “As a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It’s normal,” he said. “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.”
What Went Wrong Against Argentina
England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16, where they played with 10 men for over 35 minutes after Jarell Quansah’s red card, was a factor in the players’ thinking when trying to get over the line against Argentina.
Gordon suggested the team did not match the performances they were creating in training. If they had, they would have dominated everyone.
He defended Tuchel’s “more safe and more defensive” tactics. “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. “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.”
The Pattern of Defeat
England have lost two consecutive European Championship finals and been beaten by France and Argentina in the past two World Cups.
Spain won the World Cup by beating Argentina, dominating with 65% of the ball in the final and restricting Messi’s side to just two shots in 120 minutes, neither of which hit the target.
Gordon’s Goals and Assists
| Match | Result | Role |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup semi-final vs Argentina | 2-1 loss | Scored |
| World Cup last 16 vs Mexico | 3-2 win | Started |
| World Cup bronze-medal match vs France | 6-4 win | Started |
The Match Ahead
Saturday’s fixture pits England against Spain at Wembley, their first meeting since the World Cup. England will look to find a response to Spain’s style — but perhaps not by copying it.
The Irony of the Move
Gordon himself was signed for Barcelona instead of Rashford, a move that has worked out well so far. His experience of La Liga shows how different Spain’s approach is.
The question is whether the England squad can heed his advice. Gordon’s view is direct: England should play to their own strengths rather than chase Spain’s style.
- Match: England vs Spain
- Date: Saturday
- Venue: Wembley
- Format: Single fixture
The pattern of defeat — two European Championship finals, two World Cup semi-finals — has raised questions about whether England are good enough at controlling possession against elite nations. Gordon’s argument is blunt: the answer is not to become better at Spain’s game, but to play the way England are good at.
Gordon’s own path supports that. He says the experience of playing in La Liga has made him realise just how different Spain’s approach is. He is not convinced English players can be taught to play more like the Spanish, with their intricate possession-based game.
His conclusion is that England should stop trying to replicate Spain. The scar of the World Cup defeat, he says, might lead to victory in the next tournaments.
Saturday’s match will show whether the message lands. Gordon’s view is direct, and he carries weight after an impressive tournament. Whether the players agree remains to be seen.
Source material: “England should stop trying to replicate Spain – Gordon,” the BBC.
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