Anthony Gordon has publicly endorsed Thomas Tuchel’s assessment that England’s footballing culture does not naturally favour a possession‑driven style, and he has urged the national side to lean into the attributes that have traditionally defined English football. Tuchel faced criticism after England chose a defensive posture following Gordon’s goal that gave England the lead against Argentina in the World Cup semi‑final. That tactical shift allowed Argentina to claw back into the game and ultimately win in the closing minutes.
In response, Tuchel argued that the English player base lacks the innate ‘DNA’ for holding the ball and dictating the tempo, a trait he associated more closely with nations such as Spain, Argentina and Brazil. Despite the fact that several of England’s most technically gifted players – Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander‑Arnold – were omitted from his World Cup squad, and that midfield prospect Kobbie Mainoo never saw a minute on the pitch, Tuchel stuck to his viewpoint.
Ahead of England’s Nations League opener against the reigning world champions Spain, Gordon reiterated his manager’s perspective at a press conference. "England, as a nation, we don’t have that strength, like the Spanish, where we control games the way they do," Gordon said.
"It’s not in our DNA." Gordon made those comments at St George’s Park, a training complex built to nurture young English talent in a more technical, continental fashion. The centre was founded on ideas promoted by former FA chief football officer Dan Ashworth, who famously coined the phrase ‘England DNA’ to describe a blend of physicality, directness and grit. The irony of Tuchel’s remarks, therefore, was not lost on observers.
Now a Barcelona player, Gordon has lived the Spanish system first‑hand. He explained that while English players are being taught to keep possession, the instinctive decision‑making that characterises Spanish football is not something that can simply be instructed. "Playing in Spain gives me an educated view of how they manage the ball – it’s a completely different mindset to what I experienced back home," he noted. "I’m not convinced we can ever fully emulate that, but we can certainly improve, or perhaps we should double‑down on what we already excel at: physical, direct football and quick counter‑attacks." Reflecting on England’s performances in the World Cup, Gordon admitted that the team never translated the dominance they displayed in training to the pitch.
He cited the Norway match as an example where England could have been far more commanding but fell short. "If we had performed in the game as we did in training, we would have dominated every opponent.
Instead each match was tight – even against Norway we didn’t look like the superior side we could have been," he said. "That explains why Tuchel opted for a safer, more defensive approach in the latter stages against Argentina. From my perspective inside the group, it made sense." Gordon also pushed back against the tendency to blame a single manager for a multitude of tactical choices.
He argued that responsibility should be shared among all players, especially when the squad possesses the talent to win. "We had the best players on the field in that semi‑final, yet in the last twenty minutes we didn’t produce our best football. That’s not something a manager can fix from the sidelines alone. It’s a collective shortfall," he asserted.
"Blaming the manager is easy, but football is a team sport and accountability must be spread across the squad." Tuchel later suggested that England might need to "embrace the chaos" of a more adventurous style, and Gordon believes that lesson could shape future campaigns. "Having lived through that experience, I think the next time we find ourselves in a similar situation we’ll choose a different route," he said.
"That scar doesn’t have to be a negative mark – it could become a catalyst for success in upcoming tournaments." When asked to compare Spanish and English players, Gordon highlighted a subtle but crucial difference in decision‑making. "English players are being educated the same way as Spaniards – we know how to keep the ball – but the split‑second choices they make on the pitch are not instinctive for us," he explained. "Sometimes I watch a Spanish player’s move and think, ‘How did they even consider that option?’ It’s simply built into their footballing culture." He warned against trying to mimic other nations too closely, urging England to capitalize on its own strengths. "We can’t keep looking at other countries and trying to be them.
We are English, we have our own strengths that other teams lack. It’s time to play to those strengths," Gordon concluded. Gordon also reflected on England’s gritty 10‑man victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, describing it as a defining moment that shaped the team’s mentality for the subsequent matches against Norway and Argentina.
"The Mexico game was the best experience of my life and it forced us to show a different side – a fighting, never‑give‑up attitude. That mindset carried over, perhaps too much, into the next two games and ultimately didn’t work in the semi‑final," he admitted. He described his own personal high after scoring against Argentina, noting how adrenaline and confidence can elevate performance. "Scoring puts me in an untouchable mode of confidence.
I feel on top of the world, especially on a stage like that," he said. Despite the disappointment, Gordon remains convinced that the England squad possessed the quality to beat Spain had they reached the final. "I was confident we could have taken on Spain and won.
We never got the chance, so we’ll never know for sure," he said. Looking ahead to the Nations League clash at Wembley, Gordon stressed the importance of motivation and belief. "If we can’t motivate ourselves to show what we’re capable of at this level, we’ll never progress," he warned. "Spain are a phenomenal team, but we can be competitive.
My teammates at Barcelona told me we would have been a tough opponent for them. Winning against the world’s best, even in a friendly context, would be a huge statement." England will face Spain on Saturday at 7.45 pm, offering a chance to demonstrate progress and perhaps rewrite the narrative that Tuchel’s ‘DNA’ comment sparked.