Anthony Gordon: “We are not Spanish or French”

26.09.26 FT UEFA Nations League A

England

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Spain

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Anthony Gordon is calling on England to stop trying to replicate the model of other nations. After being eliminated by Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, the Newcastle forward believes the Three Lions must rely more on their own qualities.

Gordon wants an England that stays true to itself

England have once again fallen short in their pursuit of a major title. After reaching the Euro 2020 final, which they lost to Italy, the English national team were eliminated by Argentina in the semi-finals of the last World Cup. For Gordon, this difficulty in controlling certain matches should not lead England to try to imitate other national teams. The 25-year-old believes in particular that the Three Lions do not have the same characteristics as Spain when it comes to controlling a match.

We have to be proud of who we are. I think it’s cultural. It’s not just in this tournament or against Argentina that we haven’t been able to control a game. As a nation, we don’t have the strength of Spain, so we can’t control games like they do.

Anthony Gordon is nevertheless careful not to interfere in manager Thomas Tuchel’s decisions. The England international prefers to discuss a broader reflection on the national team’s identity:

I don’t want to talk about it because I’m not the manager. I’m not going to decide the tactics or the way we play. But I think, as a country, we need to stop looking at others. Maybe we need to be proud of who we are, of what we are. We are English, we are not Spanish or French, nor are we another nation that has succeeded.

Euro 2028 in sight

England must now turn their attention to Euro 2028, which will notably be hosted on home soil. Thomas Tuchel and his players will have another opportunity to try to secure a major title. For Gordon, previous disappointments must also serve as experience:

Every time you lose something that has value in your life, whether it’s a person or a game you really wanted to win, you’ll never be the same person again.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

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UEFA Nations League A