Anthony Gordon has backed Thomas Tuchel’s view that England’s players have an inherent inability to control games in possession – and urged the squad to embrace the country’s traditional strengths.
Tuchel was criticized for pulling England back into defense after Gordon’s goal gave them the lead against Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, an approach which eventually allowed their rivals to turn the game around in the closing stages.
Tuchel has hit back by attacking the DNA of English players. “I think possession plays a crucial role; maybe it’s not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or the Argentine-Brazilian DNA to get the ball and control the ball,” he said.
Tuchel made the comments despite leaving some of England’s most technical players – Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold – out of his World Cup squad and not giving midfielder Kobbie Mainoo a minute of playing time during the tournament.
However, speaking ahead of England’s Nations League opener with world champions Spain, Gordon backed his manager’s view.
“England, as a nation, we don’t have that strength, like the Spanish, where we control games like they do,” Gordon told a press conference. “It’s not in us.”
Gordon was speaking at St George’s Park, a venue designed to develop young England players in a technical style inspired by countries such as Spain, where former FA football boss Dan Ashworth outlined what became known as ‘England’s DNA’ – an ironic backdrop given Tuchel’s remarks.
Gordon, who now plays his club football in Spain for Barcelona, came through that system, playing in the country’s successful youth teams, but said: “I’m not sure it’s something that can be (learned).
“Having played in Spain, I can speak from an educated point of view that the way they hold the ball is different. It’s much different than I’ve ever experienced playing in this country.
“I’m not sure we can ever achieve that, but we can definitely improve, or maybe go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is to play physical, to play direct and counter-attacking football.”
Speaking last week, Tuchel suggested that England should perhaps “embrace the chaos” of this approach and Gordon believes that could be the key lesson from the summer’s World Cup disappointment.
“I think now that we’ve had that experience, maybe the next time we’re in that position, we’ll go the other way,” he said. “That scar should not be negative, because it can lead us to victory in future tournaments.”
“We are English and we have our strengths”
Anthony Gordon scored England’s first goal in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina
Detailing the difference between Spanish and English players, Gordon said: “We, as English players, are brought up in the same way as Spanish players. We know how to keep the ball, but the decision-making of some players in Spain is just not natural (for English players).
“I even look at some of the decisions they make on the ball sometimes and think, ‘I’m not sure how you saw that.’ It’s the way they’re built.
“It’s important for us that 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 strengths, which they don’t have. So maybe we start playing for what we’re good at.”
Did the iconic win in Mexico make England defensive?
Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham celebrate after England’s 3-2 win over Mexico
Reflecting on the World Cup, Gordon also highlighted the impact of England’s 10-man victory against Mexico at the Azteca, and how it subconsciously shaped their mindset for the subsequent matches against Norway and Argentina.
“The Mexico game was by far the best experience I’ve ever had in my life. But I think that probably set us up in a way,” he said.
“The red card, it made us show a different side of us. We weren’t that much of a team that wanted to play anymore, we had to really fight to get the win, which we did. Then that probably became our MO a bit for the next two games and it didn’t work for us in the semi-final.”
Gordon, however, still backs the quality in England’s squad – and is adamant they could have upset Spain in the final if they could.
“I felt very safe,” he said. “I felt like if we had got to the final I would have felt so confident playing against Spain that we would have won, but we just didn’t get there so we’ll never know.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rob Dorsett discusses whether Kobe Mainoo will play for England again under Thomas Tuchel after the Manchester United midfielder withdrew from the England squad.
It’s not a World Cup final, but England have the chance to show their level on Saturday at Wembley.
“If we can’t get motivated to show what we can do at this level, then we never will,” Gordon said. “Spain is an incredible team.
“I spoke to the Barca boys and said how would they feel if we went to the final (instead of) Argentina?
“They had seen us as really competitive. It would have been a much more competitive game because I felt Spain dominated the final. So maybe we can show that. We can show them how good we are.
“It’s not going to be a repeat of the final, but playing against the best team in the world and winning and playing well, that’s going to happen for now.”
Follow England v Spain on the Sky Sports website and app on Saturday; departure at 19:45
