England winger Anthony Gordon believes the Three Lions can win major international tournaments without trying to replicate Spain’s possession-heavy style.
England are set to face world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday in their first match since the 2026 World Cup, where Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the semi-finals before defeating France in the third-place play-off.
Gordon has urged his teammates to concentrate on England’s own strengths rather than attempting to copy Spain’s approach, insisting the two nations possess different footballing qualities.
“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.
The Barcelona winger has gained first-hand experience of Spanish football since joining the Catalan giants from Newcastle for £69.3m during the summer.
That experience, he said, has changed his perspective on Spain’s ability to control matches through prolonged possession.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon 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 also questioned whether Spain’s possession-based identity can simply be taught, arguing that it is deeply rooted in the way Spanish players develop and approach the game.
“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.”
He added that Spain’s style appeared to be part of their footballing identity.
“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 said.
The winger also reflected on England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, describing the aftermath as one of the lowest points of his career.
“I’ve never felt worse,” he admitted.
However, Gordon believes the painful experience could become a source of motivation for England as they look ahead to future international tournaments.
“The scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” he said.
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