Anthony Gordon, now absolutely immersed in the footballing royalty of La Liga champion Barcelona, is not holding back. He’s training every single day with World Cup winners like Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri, and he just laid down the absolute truth: England would be making a huge mistake trying to copy Spain’s legendary style. According to Gordon, they’re “definitely built different,” and honestly, he’s “not sure we can ever get that.” That’s a gut punch, right?
The World Cup Semifinal Haunting Anthony Gordon’s Every Move
This isn’t just some casual observation, either. Gordon knows what he’s talking about, especially after England’s brutal World Cup semifinal exit this summer. Remember that? England, with Gordon even bagging a goal, squandered a lead and coughed up two late goals to Argentina, losing 2-1. It brought back all those ugly doubts about whether England’s men’s team can ever win a major tournament like the European Championship or World Cup. Gordon admits he might “never get over” that defeat, and it’s prompted some serious questions about England’s ability to control high-pressure games, something the Spanish just *do*. Why’d it happen? England went super defensive after the lead, with coach Thomas Tuchel even making a “telling substitution” by pulling Gordon for a defender, Ezri Konsa. That opened the door for Argentina to take over the final half-hour. Brutal.
“It’s Not In The English DNA,” Says Gordon
So, naturally, everyone’s asking, why can’t England just play more like Spain? Gordon’s answer hits deep: “I think culturally, it’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game.” He thinks “England, as a nation, we don’t have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do. It’s not in us.” Ouch. He even declared, “It’s not in the English DNA,” something he’s really only grasped to this extent since moving to Spain. He sees how English players are taught the same way, how they know how to keep possession, but it’s the “decision-making of certain players in Spain, which it’s just not a natural thing.” He looks at some of their decisions on the ball and just thinks, “I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.” That’s some serious insight from a player who’s now in the thick of it.
Gordon firmly believes England needs to forge its own path instead of imitating Spain. He’s optimistic, saying, “We can definitely get better,” but suggests they might need to “go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is to play physical, play direct football, and on the counter-attack.” That’s the challenge for them now. This Saturday, England faces Spain at Wembley Stadium, a huge game for both sides as it kicks off their Nations League campaign and marks Spain’s first match as world champion. Can England start to find that identity? It’s going to be a must-watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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