Anthony Gordon believes England are good enough to win major tournaments without trying to replicate Spain’s possession-based style.
The Barcelona winger was speaking at St George’s Park ahead of England’s meeting with the world champions at Wembley on Saturday, their first match since the World Cup. World Cup.
Gordon said: “The scar does not have to be negative because it may lead us to victory in future tournaments.”
“We can’t keep looking at other countries and trying to be like them, because we’re not like them – we’re English and we have our own strengths that they don’t have, so maybe we’ll start playing the way we do best.”
Gordon sees Spain differently after Barcelona’s move
Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m over the summer and believes playing in La Liga has changed his understanding of Spanish football.
The 25-year-old spent the early part of his Barcelona career training and playing alongside some of Spain’s leading players, giving him an insight into the technical and tactical qualities behind a possession-based approach.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we’re trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon said.
“Because in Spain, I know we have good players, but they have different qualities, so why try to make these players like the Spanish players? Because the Spanish players lack the things we have and vice versa.”
England lost in the European Championship finals twice in a row, and were eliminated by France and Argentina in the last two World Cup editions.
Game control is not in England’s DNA, says Gordon
Spain dominated possession in their World Cup final win over Argentina, with 65% possession and limiting Lionel Messi’s side to just two shots in 120 minutes. Neither attempt was on target.
Gordon has experienced this style first-hand since moving to Barcelona, and says the way Spanish players control matches 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 I think now, playing in Spain, I can speak with an educated point of view about the way they keep the ball differently.
“I even look at some of the decisions they make on the ball sometimes and I think I’m not sure how you see that.
“It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know if it’s something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built differently.”
