England should stop trying to replicate Spain - Gordon

Anthony Gordon, who has made 25 appearances for England and scored four goals, believes that the English national team should stop trying to emulate Spain. The Barcelona winger made his comments at St George's Park while the England squad prepared for their World Cup qualifier against world champions Spain.

England recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-final, after previously winning 6-4 against France in the bronze medal match. Gordon was substituted during the semi-final, which he felt was a low point, saying he had "never felt worse" after the game. He believes the defeat might lead the squad to adopt a different approach in the next tournament.

Gordon stated that the English national team cannot replicate Spain's style of play, as they have their own unique strengths. He expressed doubt that English players can be taught to play like Spanish players, citing their different qualities. Gordon's experience playing in La Liga has reinforced his belief that Spanish players have distinct qualities that differ from English players.

England has not won a European Championship final since 1966 and has been beaten by France and Argentina in the World Cup in the past two tournaments. These results have raised questions about whether England can control possession effectively against elite nations. Gordon emphasized that Spain's playing style, characterized by possession-based football, poses a significant challenge for England.

The 25-year-old winger, who recently moved to Barcelona for £69.3 million, was surprised to be substituted during the semi-final. He described scoring the goal that put England ahead against Argentina as an exhilarating moment, but admitted that being substituted was different. However, he acknowledged that players often face substitutions in their careers.

Gordon defended head coach Thomas Tuchel's tactical decisions, suggesting that English players should take more initiative and control the game rather than relying on the manager to make tactical changes. He emphasized that England had the best team on the pitch in the semi-final, and their failure to play their best football resulted in the loss. Gordon urged the team to take responsibility for their performance and not blame Tuchel for their downfall.