By Treasure Anneth
Anthony Gordon has urged England to focus on their own strengths rather than trying to copy Spain’s possession-based style ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the world champions at Wembley.
The Barcelona winger made the comments at St George’s Park as England prepare for their first match since the recent World Cup.
Gordon believes England have different qualities from Spain and should build their approach around those strengths instead of attempting to reproduce the Spanish way of playing.
“It’s important that we play our own game,” Gordon said, stressing that England should make use of the qualities within their squad rather than try to imitate another footballing culture.
Gordon Draws From Spanish Experience
Gordon’s comments come after his move from Newcastle to Barcelona, where he has experienced Spain’s possession-oriented football at close quarters.
The winger’s reported £69.3 million move has given him the opportunity to train and compete alongside some of Spain’s leading players.
That experience, he suggested, has reinforced his view that England should not attempt to replicate Spain’s style.
According to Gordon, the differences begin with how players in the two countries develop and interpret situations on the pitch.
He questioned whether England could simply develop Spain’s ability to dominate games through long periods of possession by copying its approach.
Instead, he believes England should identify and maximise their own qualities.
Argentina Defeat Still in Focus
The discussion comes after England’s World Cup campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-final.
England later recovered to beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off.
The defeat to Argentina has continued to generate discussion about England’s tactical approach, particularly after manager Thomas Tuchel switched to a back-five system after Gordon had given England the lead.
Gordon was substituted shortly after scoring.
However, the Barcelona winger has defended Tuchel and argued that responsibility for the defeat should not be placed entirely on the manager.
He believes the players also need to accept responsibility for failing to control the closing stages of the match.
For Gordon, the disappointment remains painful, but he believes the experience can provide lessons for England in future tournaments.
Spain Provides a Major Test
England will now face Spain at Wembley in a match that will offer another test of their tactical approach.
Spain’s ability to retain possession and control the tempo is expected to challenge England’s organisation and defensive discipline.
But Gordon believes England do not need to win the battle by attempting to become Spain.
Instead, he wants the team to play to its own strengths and make better use of the qualities available within the squad.
With both sides coming into the fixture with significant expectations, the Wembley meeting will provide an opportunity for England to show whether they can compete with the reigning world champions while maintaining their own footballing identity.
