Gordon says England should stop trying to replicate Spain style
Anthony Gordon believes England should stop trying to copy Spain's style and discusses his World Cup substitution against Argentina.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Anthony Gordon argues England should stop attempting to replicate Spain's intricate possession game.
- The winger admits he was surprised to be substituted during the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
- Gordon completed a £69.3m summer transfer from Newcastle to Barcelona.
Anthony Gordon has spoken out during England's preparations at St George's Park ahead of Saturday's clash against world champions Spain, asserting that the Three Lions should stop trying to mimic Spanish football philosophy.
England's latest campaign ended after a 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina, prior to securing a third-place finish by beating France 6-4 in an 10-goal thriller, marking their best World Cup performance since 1966.
However, head coach Thomas Tuchel's tactical switch to a back five after substituting goalscorer Gordon invited heavy pressure, allowing Enzo Fernandez to equalize and Lautaro Martinez to score a stoppage-time winner.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Gordon, who moved from Newcastle to Barcelona for £69.3m over the summer, explained that experiencing La Liga firsthand has shown him just how distinct Spanish football culture is, expressing doubts that English players can naturally adopt such an intricate possession-based style.
The 25-year-old started five matches and provided four assists during the tournament, briefly giving fans hopes of glory before his substitution 17 minutes after opening the scoring against Argentina, an exit he confessed caught him off guard.
"It makes me feel on top of the world, especially in that moment on that stage. I felt really good. But as a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It's normal."
Anthony Gordon
The Barcelona winger also noted that had the squad replicated their training ground performances on the pitch, they would have dominated everyone, adding that the players could have taken more initiative to control the game against Argentina and prevent the manager's defensive shift.
Gordon's comments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding English football identity—balancing the desire to control matches through patient possession like elite continental teams versus leveraging traditional British traits of directness and intensity. This weekend's fixture against Spain serves as a crucial measuring stick for how England intends to evolve tactically moving forward.
Source: BBC Sport
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