Anthony Gordon Urges England to Trust Their Own Style Ahead of Spain Clash

England winger Anthony Gordon has urged the Three Lions to develop their own identity rather than attempting to copy Spain’s possession-based approach as they prepare to face the world champions at Wembley.

England will take on Spain on Saturday in their first meeting since the World Cup, where Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the semi-finals before defeating France in the third-place play-off.

With Spain widely recognised for their ability to dominate possession and control matches through patient passing, Gordon believes England should instead concentrate on the qualities that make their own players effective.

The winger said trying to reproduce another country’s footballing philosophy could prevent England from making the most of their own strengths.

“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.”

Gordon Draws From Spanish Football Experience

Gordon’s views are informed by his own experience of Spanish football following his reported £69.3m move from Newcastle to Barcelona during the summer.

The experience has allowed him to observe first-hand how Spanish players approach possession, movement and control during matches.

According to Gordon, there are significant differences between the way Spanish and English players naturally approach the game, making it difficult to simply reproduce Spain’s style by instruction alone.

“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?”

Gordon questioned whether Spain’s ability to retain possession for long periods is something that can simply be taught through coaching.

“It’s not in the English DNA,” he 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.”

The England winger suggested that Spain’s footballing approach is deeply connected to how its players are developed and how they understand the game from an early age.

“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,” he added.

England Looking to Build on World Cup Experience

Gordon also reflected on England’s World Cup campaign and the disappointment of their semi-final defeat by Argentina.

The winger described the aftermath of the loss as one of the lowest points of his career, highlighting the emotional impact of falling short at such an advanced stage of a major tournament.

“I’ve never felt worse,” Gordon said.

However, he believes the experience can eventually become a source of motivation for England as the team continues to pursue success in future competitions.

Gordon said the disappointment should not necessarily be viewed only negatively, suggesting that the experience could strengthen the team’s determination to go further in subsequent tournaments.

“The scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” he said.

Spain Test Awaits at Wembley

Saturday’s meeting with Spain will provide England with an opportunity to test themselves against the reigning world champions and assess their progress under Tuchel.

For Gordon, the fixture is also an opportunity for England to demonstrate that they can compete at the highest level while remaining faithful to their own footballing qualities.

Rather than attempting to become another Spain, Gordon believes England’s focus should be on identifying the strengths within their own squad and developing a style that allows those qualities to flourish.

The Wembley encounter is therefore expected to provide another significant test for the Three Lions as they continue their preparations for future international tournaments.

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