Anthony Gordon says that controlling games is not in the English "DNA" but the Three Lions could win major tournaments if they stop "trying to replicate Spain". The Barcelona winger was speaking at St George's Park as the England squad prepare to take on world champions Spain on Saturday - their first match together since the World Cup. England lost their semi-final 2-1 to Argentina, before beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match.
Ending on a high meant England achieved their best finish in a World Cup since 1966. But many have criticised the manner in which England were beaten by Argentina, after head coach Thomas Tuchel substituted goalscorer Gordon and went to a back five. The tactical tweak invited pressure, with Enzo Fernandez equalising before Lautaro Martinez scored a stoppage-time winner.
Gordon said that he had "never felt worse", after the game and believes that the "scar" left by defeat may mean the England squad take a different approach in the next tournament. "[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, so maybe we start playing the way we're good at." Signed instead of Rashford, Gordon is proving worth at Barca Gordon moved to Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer.
He says that the experience of playing in La Liga - with and against some of Spain's top stars - has made him realise just how different the nation's approach is to football. He is not convinced English players can be taught to play more like the Spanish, with their intricate possession-based game. "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." England have lost two consecutive European Championship finals, and been beaten by France and Argentina in the past two World Cups. Those outcomes have led to repeated questions about whether the team are good enough at controlling possession against elite nations.
Spain won the World Cup by beating Argentina and dominated with 65% of the ball in the final, restricting opponents led by Lionel Messi to just two shots in 120 minutes of play, neither of which hit the target. Spain's particular style will test England again this weekend, and the Wembley hosts will look to find a response - but perhaps not by copying their opponents. "It's not in the English DNA," Gordon said.
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