Anthony Gordon has publicly backed manager Thomas Tuchel’s controversial assessment that maintaining high levels of ball possession is not embedded in the DNA of English football. Following the team’s painful exit in the World Cup semi-finals against Argentina in July, Tuchel faced significant backlash for his tactical approach. However, Gordon believes that the failure to control games is a deeper, long-standing cultural issue rather than a specific fault of one tournament or coach.
Reflecting on the Argentina match, the 25-year-old winger admitted that the team’s late collapse—when they held a 1-0 lead—remains a source of lasting frustration. Although Gordon conceded he was surprised to be substituted after scoring the opening goal, he defended Tuchel’s decision to transition to a more defensive, five-man backline. According to the winger, England’s training standards were high, yet the players failed to replicate that composure under the pressure of the match’s final 20 minutes.
Gordon argued that England should stop attempting to mirror the playing styles of other nations, particularly Spain. Drawing from his current experience playing for Barcelona, he noted that the Spanish approach to ball retention relies on a unique level of decision-making that is distinct from what he has experienced in England. He suggested that while English players understand how to keep possession, they lack the specific instinct for game control that defines Spanish football.
Rather than force a style that does not suit the squad, Gordon proposed that England should lean into their own traditional strengths, such as physical, direct play and effective counterattacking. He acknowledged that the team had arguably the strongest players in the semi-final, yet they failed to take the initiative when it mattered most, an outcome he believes was largely out of the manager’s hands.
As England looks toward the upcoming Nations League fixture against Spain, Gordon noted that his Barcelona teammates have told him that England would have provided a more challenging opponent for Spain in the World Cup final than Argentina eventually did. Spain ultimately triumphed over Argentina with a 1-0 victory in extra time in New Jersey.
Gordon emphasized that he enters an “untouchable mode of confidence” when he scores, which made his departure from the Argentina game particularly difficult to process. He acknowledged, however, that wide players are often the first to be subbed in tactical switches. Ultimately, he insists that while the team can improve, they must accept their identity instead of chasing an elusive style that does not align with their natural footballing culture. The report also notes that allowing Argentina to fight back and go through with two late goals, england’s perennial struggle to keep the ball when under pressure flared when a place in the final was within touching distance in July. The report also notes that the pain has not gone away and there has been intense scrutiny of Tuchel’s role in Atlanta. The report also notes that but Gordon, who thinks he will always be scarred by losing against Argentina, sided with Tuchel’s observations about England’s style as he looked towards the Nations League game against Spain on Saturday. The report also notes that i’m not sure it’s something that can be taught. The report also notes that i look at some of the decisions they take on the ball sometimes and think: ‘I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.’”. The report also notes that “I’d just scored,” Gordon said. “I’m really good when I play off adrenaline. The report also notes that when I score, I normally don’t have many bad games, because I get into an untouchable mode of confidence.
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