Gordon backs Tuchel: England should stop copying Spain

Anthony Gordon has backed Thomas Tuchel's claim that controlling matches with the ball is not in the England players' DNA, and says the team should stop trying to copy Spain.

The Barcelona winger spoke at St George's Park ahead of Saturday's Nations League opener against Spain, the world champions. It is England's first match since the World Cup.

"England, as a nation, we don't have that strength, like the Spanish, where we control games like they do," Gordon said. "It's not in us."

Tuchel made the original remark after the semi-final defeat by Argentina. England lost 2-1 after Gordon, who had scored to put them ahead, was substituted and the head coach moved to a back five. The change invited pressure. Enzo Fernandez equalised, and Lautaro Martinez scored in stoppage time. Fernandez has since joined Manchester City from Chelsea for £125m.

"I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it's maybe not in our DNA like it is in Spanish DNA or in Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball," Tuchel said.

Tuchel was criticised for the retreat, and for a squad that left out Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United midfielder, did not play a minute at the tournament. England beat France 6-4 in the bronze medal match, their best World Cup finish since 1966.

Gordon said he "never felt worse" after the Argentina game. He does not see the defeat as only a negative.

"[The] scar doesn't have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments," he said. "We can't keep looking at other countries and trying to be like them, because we're not them - we're English and we have our own strengths which they don't have, so maybe we start playing the way we're good at."

Gordon joined Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer. He says playing in La Liga, with and against some of Spain's top players, has shown him how different their approach is. He is not convinced English players can be taught it.

"I'm speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain," he said.

If Tuchel shares that view, Saturday's game against Spain may show whether England set up to play to those strengths or to match the champions on the ball.