Anthony Gordon defends Thomas Tuchel over England possession debate
Anthony Gordon
Thomas TuchelAnthony Gordon has backed former England manager Thomas Tuchel’s controversial claim about the national team’s style, while admitting his own shock at being substituted during the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The Barcelona winger, who left Newcastle United for Spain in a £69.3 million transfer during the summer, spoke out at St George’s Park ahead of England’s Nations League clash against Spain at Wembley.
Gordon had put the Three Lions ahead in Atlanta with a 55th-minute strike, but was hauled off soon after as Tuchel opted for a defensive shift, bringing on Ezri Konsa to secure the lead.
The decision backfired as Argentina dominated the final stages, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 victory and deny England a place in their first World Cup final since 1966.
A painful exit in Atlanta
Despite the disappointment of the tactical switch, which invited relentless pressure and saw Lautaro Martinez net a stoppage-time winner, Gordon refused to point the finger at his manager.
Speaking at St George’s Park, Gordon said:
“We shouldn’t try and blame one man who’s obviously trying his best and trying to win the cup for us all.”
The 25-year-old forward admitted he felt an immense surge of belief after opening the scoring in the semi-final, making his sudden withdrawal a difficult pill to swallow.
Speaking at St George’s Park, Gordon said:
“When I score, I normally don’t have many bad games because I get into an untouchable mode of confidence.”
He acknowledged that wingers are frequently rotated or substituted to bring fresh energy off the bench, but the timing of this particular change left a lasting mark on the squad.
Embracing the English identity
Following the tournament, Tuchel faced heavy criticism for suggesting that keeping possession was simply not part of the English footballing identity.
Having spent the start of the season playing in La Liga, Gordon has developed a fresh perspective on the contrast between English and Spanish footballing cultures.
Speaking at St George’s Park, Gordon said:
“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain.”
Instead of trying to copy the intricate, possession-heavy style of the European champions, Gordon believes England must embrace their own traditional strengths.
Speaking at St George’s Park, Gordon 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.”
Learning from the scars of defeat
The former Newcastle star explained that Spanish players possess a natural, almost inexplicable instinct for decision-making on the ball that cannot easily be drilled into English players.
Rather than chasing an unnatural style, he urged the national team to focus on direct, physical football and devastating counter-attacks to break down elite opposition.
England did manage to finish their World Cup campaign on a relative high, defeating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match to secure their best tournament finish in nearly six decades.
The squad also showed immense character earlier in the competition, fighting through a tense 3-2 victory over Mexico despite playing with ten men after Jarell Quansah was sent off.
Looking ahead to Wembley
Now, England face a swift opportunity to test themselves against the very standard they are debating, with Spain arriving at Wembley for the Nations League curtain-raiser this Saturday.
It will be the first time the squad has gathered since their heartbreaking exit in North America, and Gordon is determined to ensure the lessons of that defeat are put to good use.
While the pain of missing out on the final remains a permanent scar for the winger, he insists that the experience can ultimately propel this group of players to future international success.
