Anthony Gordon has publicly backed Thomas Tuchel’s assessment that England’s footballers lack an innate propensity for dominating possession, urging the national side to lean into the attributes that have traditionally defined English football. Tuchel faced criticism after England’s defensive posture in the World Cup semi‑final against Argentina, where a lead secured by Gordon’s goal was eventually erased as the opponents turned the tide in the closing stages. The German coach responded by commenting on the "DNA" of English players, suggesting that unlike Spain or the South American nations of Argentina and Brazil, England does not naturally gravitate toward a possession‑centric style. Tuchel’s remarks came despite the fact that he omitted several of England’s most technically gifted talents – such as Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander‑Arnold – from his World Cup roster, and he did not give midfielder Kobbie Mainoo any minutes on the pitch throughout the tournament.
Nevertheless, ahead of England’s Nations League opener against the reigning world champions Spain, Gordon reiterated his manager’s viewpoint. "England, as a nation, we don’t have that strength, like the Spanish, where we control games like they do," Gordon said during a press conference. "It’s not in us." The comments were made at St George’s Park, a training complex designed to nurture young English talent in a more technical fashion, drawing inspiration from footballing cultures such as Spain’s. Former FA chief football officer Dan Ashworth had previously outlined the concept of an "England DNA," a notion that now sits in stark contrast to Tuchel’s observations.
Gordon, who currently plies his trade for Barcelona after moving to Spain, grew up within that very development system and starred in England’s successful youth sides. Yet he expressed uncertainty about whether the possession‑oriented style can truly be taught.
"Playing in Spain gives me a more educated view of how they keep the ball," he explained. "It’s very different from what I’ve experienced back home. I’m not sure we can ever fully adopt it, but we can certainly improve, or perhaps we should simply double‑down on what we do best – a physical, direct approach and quick counter‑attacks." He reflected on England’s performances at the World Cup, noting a disconnect between training intensity and match execution. "If we had played like we did in training, we would have dominated every opponent.
That didn’t happen. Even against Norway we felt we were above them, yet we failed to impose ourselves. That explains why Tuchel opted for a more cautious, defensive set‑up after the Argentina game – he reverted to the formula that got us through the earlier rounds. It may look odd to outsiders, but from inside the squad it made sense." Gordon also addressed the tendency to blame a single manager for a multitude of tactical decisions.
"Managers always take responsibility, but football is a collective effort. In that semi‑final we had the best lineup on the pitch, yet in the last twenty minutes we didn’t deliver the quality we were capable of.
That’s not something a coach can fix from the sidelines; it’s a shared responsibility." Tuchel, in the aftermath of the semi‑final, suggested England might need to "embrace the chaos" of a more adventurous style. Gordon believes that lesson could shape future campaigns. "Having lived through that experience, I think next time we’ll choose a different path. The scar from this tournament doesn’t have to be a negative mark – it could become the catalyst for victory in upcoming competitions." When asked to compare English and Spanish players, Gordon noted that while English footballers are educated in a similar way to their Spanish counterparts, the decision‑making on the ball often differs.
"I watch Spanish players make choices that I can’t quite fathom – it’s almost instinctual for them. That’s not a natural trait for us." He cautioned against endlessly mimicking other nations, emphasizing the importance of embracing England’s unique strengths. "We can’t keep trying to be someone we’re not. We’re English, we have our own qualities that other countries lack.
Perhaps it’s time to play to those strengths rather than forcing a style that doesn’t suit us." Gordon also reflected on the psychological impact of England’s gritty 10‑man victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. "That match was the best experience of my life and it shaped our mindset for the subsequent games against Norway and Argentina. The red card forced us to dig deep, to fight for every inch. That resilience became our default approach, perhaps too much so, and ultimately didn’t serve us in the semi‑final." He described the surge of confidence he felt after scoring his goal, noting how adrenaline can elevate a player’s performance.
"When I’m on a high, I rarely have a bad game. I feel untouchable, on top of the world, especially on such a big stage." Despite the disappointment, Gordon remains convinced of the squad’s quality and believes England could have challenged Spain had they reached the final.
"I was confident we would have given Spain a run for their money. We might have even won, but we’ll never know." Looking ahead to the Nations League clash at Wembley, Gordon stresses the need for motivation and belief.
"If we can’t motivate ourselves to showcase what we’re capable of, we’ll never reach our potential. Spain are a phenomenal team, but we can still prove we belong at that level." He recounted a conversation with his Barcelona teammates, asking how they would have felt if England had faced them in a final instead of Argentina. "They’d see us as a genuine threat.
The final would have been far more competitive, because I sensed Spain were dominant. Even if we don’t replicate the final, beating the world’s best and playing well will be a huge statement." The upcoming match offers England a chance to demonstrate progress and to test whether a blend of physicality, directness, and selective possession can bridge the gap with the world’s elite. Gordon’s message is clear: respect the nation’s footballing heritage, refine the technical aspects, and play to the strengths that have historically set England apart.