Anthony Gordon tells England to stop copying Spain after painful World Cup exit

Anthony Gordon believes England must stop trying to replicate Spain’s possession-heavy football and instead build an identity around the qualities that make English players different.

The Barcelona winger was part of the England side that finished third at the World Cup after Thomas Tuchel’s team suffered a painful 2-1 semi-final defeat against Argentina.

Gordon scored to put England ahead but was substituted before Argentina completed their late comeback, with the defeat intensifying debate around England’s approach against elite opposition.

Having moved from Newcastle United to Barcelona in a deal worth up to €80million shortly before the World Cup, Gordon believes his experience in Spain has shown him the difference between the two football cultures.

“I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon said. “I know we've got just as good players, but they have different qualities.”

Rather than attempting to reproduce Spain's ability to dominate possession, Gordon believes England could benefit from embracing a more physical, direct and counter-attacking style.

“Why try and make them the same players as the Spanish players?” he asked.

“I think we need to stop looking elsewhere as a country, and maybe be proud of who we are, what we are, the things we have.”

His comments follow Tuchel's suggestion that England may need to “embrace the chaos” and accept greater risk as they begin building towards Euro 2028.

Gordon also admitted he was surprised when Tuchel replaced him in the 72nd minute against Argentina.

The winger had opened the scoring in the 55th minute and felt his confidence was growing at precisely the moment England began retreating.

“Yeah, I was, being totally honest,” Gordon said when asked if the substitution surprised him. “Only because I'd just scored.”

England switched to a back five and registered just 12 per cent possession between Argentina's two goals, with Lautaro Martínez eventually scoring the stoppage-time winner.

Tuchel has since defended those decisions, arguing that alternative substitutions would not necessarily have produced a different result.

England responded by beating France 6-4 in the third-place match, but Gordon admits the semi-final defeat has left a lasting mark.

“It leaves a scar, but that scar doesn't always have to be a negative one,” he said. “You can be a better person for it.”

Gordon is back with England for the first international window since their third-place World Cup finish, with Tuchel's side preparing to face Spain at Wembley on September 26.

The coming Nations League fixtures should provide an early indication of whether Tuchel intends to change England's approach as attention gradually shifts towards Euro 2028.