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| Anthony Gordon |
England winger Anthony Gordon believes the Three Lions can win major international trophies without trying to imitate Spain’s possession-based style.
England are set to face Spain at Wembley on Saturday in their first meeting since the 2026 World Cup, where Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the semi-finals before securing third place with a victory over France.
Gordon believes England should concentrate on their own strengths instead of attempting to reproduce the way Spain control matches.
“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,” Gordon said, according to BBC Sport.
“So maybe we start playing the way we’re good at.”
The winger has gained a closer understanding of Spanish football since joining Barcelona from Newcastle in a £69.3 million move during the summer.
Gordon said his experience in Spain had helped him appreciate the differences between the way Spanish and English players approach possession and game management.
“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?”
The 26-year-old also questioned whether Spain’s ability to dominate possession can simply be taught to another team.
“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 on the way they keep the ball is different.”
He added: “It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know whether it is something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built different.”
Gordon also reflected on England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, describing the experience as one of the most difficult moments of his career.
“I’ve never felt worse,” he admitted.
Despite the disappointment, the Barcelona winger believes the experience can become a source of motivation for England as they target success in future tournaments.
“The scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” Gordon said.