‘It’s not in us’: Anthony Gordon backs Tuchel over England’s possession problem

Anthony Gordon has sided with Thomas Tuchel’s assertion that controlling games through possession is not part of English football’s DNA. Although Gordon revealed surprise at being substituted when England were 1-0 up in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina , the winger refused to blame the defeat on Tuchel’s decisions and argued that wider cultural issues influenced the side’s collapse.

England’s perennial struggle to keep the ball when under pressure flared when a place in the final was within touching distance in July, allowing Argentina to fight back and go through with two late goals. The pain has not gone away and there has been intense scrutiny of Tuchel’s role in Atlanta. The head coach’s tactical choices were criticised and he faced a backlash after saying “ball possession” was not in his team’s DNA.

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 25-year-old admitted the side had an ingrained inability to control games but argued they should stop trying to copy other nations.

Gordon has gained an insight into the Spanish understanding of how to use the ball since his move to Barcelona. His view is that England should lean more into their physical strengths.

“Culturally it’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game,” Gordon said. “As a nation we don’t have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do. It’s not in us. I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught. Playing in Spain I can speak with an educated view on the way they keep the ball.

“It’s much different than I’ve ever experienced in this country, so I’m not sure we can ever get that. We can definitely get better – or maybe go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is play physical, play direct football and on the counterattack.”

Tuchel, who has talked about embracing the chaos of English football, is unsure whether his side can play with more control. “It’s not in the English DNA,” Gordon said. “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. I look at some of the decisions they take on the ball sometimes and think: ‘I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.’”

Gordon opened the scoring against Argentina and was surprised to be replaced by Ezri Konsa when Tuchel made the first of two defensive moves and switched to a back five after the hydration break in the second half.

“I’d just scored,” Gordon said. “I’m really good when I play off adrenaline. When I score, I normally don’t have many bad games, because I get into an untouchable mode of confidence.

“But as a winger I come off most games. It’s normal, it’s usually the position that’s targeted first for substitutions, because the player on the bench in your position is usually quick, and usually really good.”

Gordon defended Tuchel and said England’s performances did not match their level in training.