adminAnthony Gordon has once again found himself at the centre of a major England discussion after producing another important moment against Spain at Wembley.
The Barcelona winger scored England’s equaliser as Thomas Tuchel’s side recovered from an early setback against the reigning world champions. However, despite Gordon’s contribution, England eventually suffered a 3-2 defeat in a dramatic UEFA Nations League encounter.
Spain struck after Marc Guehi’s early mistake allowed Lamine Yamal to open the scoring, but England responded impressively. Jude Bellingham helped create the opportunity for Gordon, who finished to bring the hosts level and give the Wembley crowd renewed belief.
Harry Kane then put England ahead, leaving Tuchel’s side in front at half-time.
For a period, England appeared capable of producing one of their most impressive performances against Spain. The team played with intensity and attacked with confidence, while Gordon remained a significant threat on the left.
However, Spain demonstrated why they remain such a difficult opponent.
Alex Baena eventually brought Spain level before Mikel Oyarzabal completed the comeback, giving the visitors a 3-2 victory.
The result has inevitably brought the spotlight back onto England’s ability to control matches against elite opposition.
Interestingly, Gordon had already spoken about this issue before the game. The 25-year-old recently argued that England should not attempt to copy Spain’s possession-based approach because the two football cultures have developed differently.
Having moved to Barcelona, Gordon has gained first-hand experience of playing alongside Spanish stars and observing their approach to controlling matches. He argued that England could instead focus more heavily on their own strengths, including direct football, physicality and counter-attacking.
His comments became particularly relevant during the Wembley clash.
England showed they could hurt Spain, particularly when playing aggressively and moving the ball forward quickly. Gordon’s goal was a perfect example of that approach, as England responded quickly after falling behind.
But Spain ultimately regained control and punished England when opportunities appeared.
That leaves one major question for Tuchel and his coaching staff: should England continue developing their own style, or must they find a way to control games more effectively against teams capable of dominating possession?
Gordon’s performance provides one part of the answer. His pace, direct running and willingness to attack defenders give England a different dimension, while his experience at Barcelona means he is also gaining a closer understanding of the Spanish approach.
Yet the defeat demonstrates that individual moments are not always enough.
England had chances to extend their advantage, with Kane’s missed penalty proving particularly significant while the score was still 2-1. Spain then took advantage of England’s failure to put the game beyond them.
For Gordon, however, the night offered further evidence that he can play a decisive role for England.
The winger had already scored against Argentina during England’s World Cup campaign and was involved again against Spain. His influence means his position within Tuchel’s plans is likely to remain an important talking point.
England’s next Nations League fixtures will provide another opportunity to see whether the lessons from Wembley are applied.
The defeat was disappointing, but Gordon’s goal and overall involvement have ensured that the conversation surrounding England’s attacking options will continue.
More importantly, his experience in Spain has given him a unique perspective on the tactical question facing the national team.
Whether England ultimately choose to develop a more possession-heavy approach or embrace a more direct identity remains to be seen. What is clear is that Gordon’s latest performance has added another significant chapter to that debate.
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