England’s possession woes spark debate as Gordon backs Tuchel’s view

Anthony Gordon has publicly backed Thomas Tuchel’s claim that England do not possess a natural instinct for ball‑possession, a point that resurfaced after the World Cup semi‑final loss to Argentina. The Barcelona winger, who was substituted when England led 1‑0, said the defeat could not be pinned on Tuchel’s tactics alone.

Gordon’s assessment of the semi‑final

Gordon admitted the players “could have done more” in the match, expressing surprise at his own substitution but refusing to blame the result on the head coach. He highlighted that England’s long‑standing difficulty in retaining the ball under pressure re‑emerged when a final place seemed within reach in July.

Argentina’s comeback, sealed by two late goals, underscored the issue, and Gordon noted the lingering pain and intense scrutiny of Tuchel’s role in Atlanta.

Tuchel had earlier stated that “ball possession” is not in his team’s DNA, a comment that sparked backlash and debate about the English game’s cultural identity.

Gordon argued the problem runs deeper than tactics, pointing to a broader cultural mismatch with the possession‑centric style exemplified by Spain.

The winger’s remarks add another voice to the ongoing discussion about whether England can ever adopt a Spain‑like approach to controlling matches.