Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
England winger Anthony Gordon believes the national team can compete for major trophies without attempting to replicate Spain’s possession-based style, arguing that the Three Lions should focus on their own strengths.
Gordon made the comments ahead of England’s opening UEFA Nations League Group A3 match against Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Barcelona winger has gained first-hand experience of Spanish football since joining the Catalan club and said the way Spanish players control matches through possession differs significantly from what he has experienced in England.
According to Gordon, England should improve their ability to retain possession but should not abandon characteristics that have traditionally been associated with the national team.
Gordon backs England to develop its own approach
Gordon said England should avoid continually comparing themselves with other footballing nations.
He argued that English players have qualities that are different from those of Spanish players and that the national team could benefit from building its approach around those characteristics.
The winger suggested that England could place greater emphasis on physical football, direct attacking and counter-attacking rather than trying to reproduce Spain’s method of controlling games through extended periods of possession.
Gordon’s comments echo a debate that has intensified around England’s tactical identity under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel has previously questioned whether controlling matches through possession is naturally embedded in English football, while also acknowledging the need for England to improve their ability to manage games. Gordon said his experience playing in Spain had given him a different perspective on the issue.
Barcelona experience influences Gordon’s view
Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle United during the summer and has since experienced Spanish football from inside one of the country’s most prominent clubs.
He said the difference is not simply about whether players are capable of passing the ball. In his view, the key distinction lies in the decisions Spanish players make when they have possession.
Gordon said English players are educated to keep possession as well, but argued that Spanish players appear to make certain decisions on the ball more naturally.
His experience has therefore led him to question whether England should attempt to reproduce Spain’s footballing model completely.
Instead, he believes the team can continue improving technically while making greater use of qualities he considers more natural to English football.
World Cup defeat remains part of the discussion
The debate comes after England’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England reached the semi-finals but lost 2-1 to Argentina before recovering to beat France 6-4 in the bronze-medal match. England Football records the Argentina defeat as the team’s final competitive match before the Nations League campaign.
Gordon scored England’s opening goal against Argentina but was substituted later in the match. The decision and England’s subsequent loss became part of the wider discussion about how the team manages matches after taking the lead.
Gordon has acknowledged that the defeat remains painful but has said the experience could provide lessons for the future.
His latest comments suggest that he believes England’s response should not necessarily be to imitate another country’s footballing identity.
Spain provides an immediate test
England will have an immediate opportunity to test their approach when they host Spain at Wembley on Saturday.
The match is the opening fixture of England’s 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign and comes against the reigning world champions. England and Spain are in Group A3 alongside Czechia and Croatia.
UEFA lists England’s previous record against Spain since 2000 as three wins, one draw and six defeats, adding another layer of significance to the Wembley encounter.
The fixture will also bring together two teams with contrasting footballing traditions, although the match itself will provide the clearest evidence of how each side approaches the contest.
Tuchel’s England facing tactical questions
Tuchel has spoken about balancing control with the traditional characteristics of English football.
The England manager has indicated that he wants his team to retain the intensity and attacking qualities associated with English football while improving their ability to control difficult matches.
Gordon’s comments broadly support the idea of developing that identity rather than attempting to reproduce Spain’s possession model.
However, his argument does not mean England should ignore the lessons provided by Spain. Gordon acknowledged that England can improve their ability to keep the ball while questioning whether the team needs to make possession football the foundation of its identity.
England’s Nations League campaign
The Spain match begins a demanding run of Nations League fixtures for England.
After hosting Spain, England will travel to Prague to face Czechia on September 29 before visiting Croatia on October 3. The Three Lions will then host Czechia at Wembley on October 6.
England’s remaining Group A3 fixtures will see them face Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to Spain on November 15.
The Nations League campaign will therefore give Tuchel several opportunities to assess whether England can combine greater control with the direct and physical qualities Gordon believes should remain central to their game.
Why Gordon’s comments matter
Gordon’s intervention adds another perspective to the continuing debate over England’s footballing identity.
Spain’s success has made possession-based football an obvious reference point for teams seeking to compete at the highest level. But Gordon’s argument is that success does not necessarily require England to reproduce the Spanish model.
For England, the challenge will be finding an effective balance between improving areas where the team has struggled and preserving the qualities that its players can exploit most effectively.
The answer will ultimately be determined on the pitch rather than through comparisons between the two footballing cultures.
For now, Gordon’s message is clear: England should learn from Spain without attempting to become Spain.
What happens next
England face Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26, in the opening match of their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League Group A3 campaign. The match is scheduled for 7:45pm BST.
The encounter will provide an early test of Tuchel’s tactical approach and England’s ability to compete against the reigning world champions while developing a style based on their own strengths.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- England Football — England senior men’s squad and fixture information.
- UEFA — 2026/27 UEFA Nations League fixtures and Group A3 information.
- The Guardian — Anthony Gordon’s comments on England’s possession approach and Spain.
- Sky Sports — Gordon’s comments on England’s footballing strengths and Thomas Tuchel’s position.
- BBC — Reporting on Gordon’s call for England to develop its own style.
