England winger Anthony Gordon backs Tuchel’s claim that possession is not in England’s DNA

England’s 2026 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina sparked intense debate over the team’s tactical identity. Winger Anthony Gordon, now a Barcelona player, publicly supported Tuchel’s assessment in a press conference at St George’s Park, saying England should lean into its traditional physical and direct strengths rather than trying to emulate Spanish possession styles.

The Guardian

During the semi-final, England led 1-0 after Gordon’s goal but were later overturned by two late Argentine goals, prompting Tuchel to shift to a defensive back-five after the hydration break. Gordon, who scored the opening goal, reflected on the loss, noting that the team’s performance in the final minutes did not match the quality shown in training.

The Guardian

Gordon argued that England’s cultural footballing traits differ from those of Spain, emphasizing that the nation’s strength lies in physicality, direct play, and counter-attacking. He suggested that trying to teach a possession-centric style may be futile, citing his experience in Spain as providing an “educated view” of how Spanish teams keep the ball. Gordon also stressed collective responsibility, stating that the squad’s inability to translate training standards into match performance was a shared shortfall, not solely the manager’s fault. Tuchel, meanwhile, reiterated his belief that English players are educated similarly to their Spanish counterparts but that decision-making on the ball remains a distinguishing factor.

The Guardian

• “Culturally it’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game,” — Anthony Gordon

The Guardian

• “It’s not in the English DNA,” — Anthony Gordon

The Guardian

• “As players we could have done more to take the initiative, to control the game. We had the best team, we had the best players in that semi-final, and in the last 20 minutes we didn’t play the best football. That’s something the manager can’t really affect.” — Anthony Gordon

The Guardian

• “England, as a nation, we don't have that strength, like the Spanish, where we control games like they do,” — Anthony Gordon

England vs Spain: Anthony Gordon backs Thomas Tuchel's 'DNA' comments about possession and calls on Three Lions to focus on their strengths

• “We, as English players, are educated the same way as the Spanish players. We know how to keep possession, but it's the decision-making of certain players in Spain which is just not a natural thing [for English players].” — Anthony Gordon

England vs Spain: Anthony Gordon backs Thomas Tuchel's 'DNA' comments about possession and calls on Three Lions to focus on their strengths

• “If we can't be motivated to show what we can do at this level, then we're never going to be,” — Anthony Gordon

England vs Spain: Anthony Gordon backs Thomas Tuchel's 'DNA' comments about possession and calls on Three Lions to focus on their strengths

Gordon’s endorsement of Tuchel’s “DNA” argument could influence England’s tactical preparation for the upcoming Nations League match against world champions Spain. If the coaching staff adopts a more physically oriented, direct approach, England may forgo attempts to dominate possession, instead seeking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities. This shift would represent a departure from recent efforts to emulate continental possession models and could reshape player selection, training emphasis, and in-game strategies.

The Guardian

England’s next competitive fixture is the Nations League opener against Spain at Wembley. The match will test whether the team adopts Gordon’s suggested focus on physicality and directness or attempts to integrate greater possession play against a side renowned for controlling games.

The Guardian