Anthony Gordon supports Tuchel on England's possession struggle

The Guardian Sport1 min read • Latest: Sep 24, 2026, 5:00 AM

Last updated Sep 24, 2026

Anthony Gordon supports Tuchel on England's possession struggle
Summary

Anthony Gordon expressed support for Thomas Tuchel’s view that possession-based play is not part of England’s footballing identity. Speaking on September 24, Gordon reflected on England's World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina, noting the team's inability to maintain control late in the match. He emphasized that cultural factors played a significant role in the defeat and mentioned he was surprised by his own substitution while leading 1-0. Tuchel remains under scrutiny for his tactical decisions during the tournament.

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By the Numbers
  • Gordon backs Tuchel's assertion on England's playing style.
  • England struggled to maintain possession against Argentina.
  • Gordon was surprised by his substitution in the semi-final.
  • Tuchel faces criticism for his tactical choices during the tournament.
  • The discussion emphasizes cultural issues in English football.
Latest Updates
  • 5:00 AMThe Guardian Sport‘It’s not in us’: Anthony Gordon backs Tuchel over England’s possession problem
What they're saying
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Barcelona winger says England cannot play like Spain Gordon: players ‘could have done more’ in semi-final 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. Continue reading...

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