Anthony Gordon believes England have enough quality to win major tournaments without trying to replicate Spain’s possession-based approach.
The Barcelona The winger was speaking at St George’s Park ahead of England’s meeting with the world champions at Wembley on Saturday, their first game since the World Cup
“(The) scar doesn’t have to be negative because it could lead us to victory in the next few 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’ve got our own strengths that they don’t have, so maybe we’ll start playing the way we’re good at.”
Gordon sees Spain differently after moving from Barcelona
Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer and believes playing in La Liga has changed his view of Spanish football.
The 25-year-old has spent the early part of his Barcelona career training and playing alongside some of Spain’s top players, giving him an insight into the technical and tactical qualities behind his possession game.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we’re trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon said.
“Being in Spain, I know we have players who are just as good, but they have different qualities, so why are you trying to make these players the same as the Spaniards? Because the Spaniards lack the things we have and vice versa.”
England have lost two consecutive European Championship finals and have been eliminated by France and Argentina in the last two World Cups.
Gordon says controlling games is not in England’s DNA
Spain dominated possession in their World Cup final win over Argentina, holding 65% of the ball and restricting Lionel Messi’s side to just two shots over 120 minutes. Neither attempt was on point.
Gordon has experienced this style first-hand since moving to Barcelona and says the way Spanish players control games is rooted in qualities that are difficult to teach.
“It’s not in the English DNA,” Gordon 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 about the way they have the ball is different.
“I even look at some of the decisions they make with the ball sometimes and I think I’m not sure how you saw it.
“It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know if it’s something we might never be able to put a name to, but they’re definitely built differently.”