England can win major tournaments without trying to copy Spain, Anthony Gordon has said as the Three Lions prepare to face the world champions.
England will meet Spain at Wembley on Saturday in their first game together since the World Cup, where Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the semi-finals before beating France in the third-place match.
Gordon believes England should focus on their own strengths rather than attempting to reproduce Spain’s possession-based style.
As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Gordon was quoted as saying, “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.”
The Barcelona winger has gained first-hand experience of Spanish football since moving to the Catalan club from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer.
Gordon said that experience had given him a different perspective on the way Spanish players control games.
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” he said.
“Because I’m in Spain, I know we have just as good players, but they have different qualities, so why are you trying to make those players the same as the Spanish players?
Gordon also questioned whether Spain’s ability to dominate possession is something that can simply be taught.
“It’s not in the English DNA,” he said.
“I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught because now I think, playing in Spain, I can speak with an educated view on the way they keep the ball is different.”
He added: “It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know whether it is something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built different.”
Gordon also reflected on England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, describing the aftermath as one of the lowest moments of his career.
“I’ve never felt worse,” he said.
However, he believes the disappointment could ultimately provide motivation for England in future tournaments.
“The scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” Gordon said.
