Anthony Gordon believes England are good enough to win major tournaments without trying to copy Spain’s ball-playing style.
The Barcelona winger was speaking at St George’s Park ahead of England’s clash with the world champions at Wembley on Saturday, their first game since the World Cup. World Cup.
“[The] A scar doesn’t have to be a negative because it could lead us to a victory in the next game,” Gordon said.
“We can’t keep looking at other countries and trying to be like them because we’re not them – we’re British and we have our own strengths and they don’t, so maybe we start playing in the way we’re good at.”
Gordon sees Spain differently after move to Barcelona
Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3million in the summer and believes playing in La Liga has changed his understanding of Spanish football.
The 25-year-old trained and played alongside some of Spain’s top players early in his Barcelona career, giving him a closer look at the technical and tactical qualities behind the possession game.
“My point is, I feel like we’re trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon said.
“Because I’m in Spain and I know we have equally good players but they have different qualities, so why do you try to make these players the same as Spanish players? Because Spanish players lack what we have and vice versa.”
England lost two consecutive European Cup finals and were eliminated by France and Argentina in the last two World Cups.
Gordon says controlling games is not in England’s DNA
Spain dominated possession in their World Cup final victory over Argentina, enjoying 65 per cent possession and limiting Messi’s side to just two shots on goal in 120 minutes. Both attempts fell short of the target.
Gordon, who has experienced the style first-hand since moving to Barcelona, says the way Spanish players control the game is rooted in qualities that are difficult to teach.
“It’s not in British DNA,” Gordon said.
“I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught because now I think, playing in Spain, I can talk from an educated point of view about the difference in the way they have the ball.
“Sometimes I even look at some of the decisions they make on the ball and I guess I’m not sure how you view that.
“It’s just the way they’re built. I don’t know if it’s something we can never name, but it’s definitely different in the way they’re built.”