Gordon backs Tuchel over England's possession struggles

Summarised from 7 outlets · 23 reports · Updated 25 Sept, 21:07 · Archive

Anthony Gordon has defended Thomas Tuchel's assertion that controlling games through possession is not part of English football's DNA.

Anthony Gordon, now at Barcelona, has sided with England manager Thomas Tuchel's view that keeping possession is not inherent to English football, in contrast to teams like Spain. Gordon revealed surprise at being substituted when England led 1-0 against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final but refused to blame Tuchel's decisions, arguing instead that wider cultural issues influenced the side's collapse. England face Spain in a Nations League match at Wembley on Saturday. Meanwhile, Tuchel has criticised Cole Palmer for missing too many opportunities to play for England after the Chelsea forward withdrew from the squad, questioning whether Palmer wants to be part of his plans.

How it is being reported

• Tuchel questions whether Palmer is desperate to play for EnglandThomas Tuchel is unsure how desperate Cole Palmer is to play for England.Sky Sports · 25 Sept, 21:00
• England aim to win over Wembley and revive Wonderwall in Spain glamour fixtureEmotions of a Nations League match cannot pulse to the same levels as the World Cup but Tuchel needs to reconnect Thomas Tuchel has pictured the scene. It comes after the final whistle has blown on England’s Nations League opener against Spain on Saturday night, the first post-World Cup fixture for both teams, and it has Wembley swaying to the strains of Wonderwall. It is a moment of communion, a reconnection with the Oasis classic that was the soundtrack to England’s World Cup campaign, which delivered so much only to end in such disappointment. “Do I think it will happen tomorrow?” Tuchel…Guardian Football · 25 Sept, 19:00
• Thomas Tuchel warns Cole Palmer about ‘missing way too many’ England campsHead coach said latest withdrawal is ‘missed opportunity’ England host Spain in Nations League on Saturday Thomas Tuchel has thrown Cole Palmer’s England future into major doubt by questioning whether the Chelsea attacker wants to be part of his squad. England’s head coach did not hold back on Palmer’s latest withdrawal from international duty, warning that the 24-year-old has missed too many opportunities to play for his country. Palmer has only 14 caps and his decision not to join up with the squad this week, because of a minor muscular injury, caused disappointment given he was left out…The Guardian · 25 Sept, 19:00
• Thomas Tuchel questions if Cole Palmer wants to play for England - 'It's hard to argue'The Chelsea star has pulled out of the England squad yet again and Thomas Tuchel has made his feelings clear on a player who wasn't taken the World CupMirror Sport · 25 Sept, 19:00
• Thomas Tuchel makes promise over England's 'Wonderwall' celebration as boss drops selection hintEngland take to the pitch for the first time since the World Cup on Saturday evening against Spain and the Three Lions will be hoping to give supporters something to celebrate at WembleyMirror Sport · 25 Sept, 19:00
• Palmer misses too many opportunities to play for EnglandThomas Tuchel has said that Cole Palmer "misses too many opportunities" to play for England after the Chelsea forward pulled out of the latest squad.BBC News · 25 Sept, 16:54
• Thomas Tuchel raps Cole Palmer for 'missing way too many camps': Three Lions boss says he wants to 'focus on the guys who absolutely want to play for England'Palmer withdrew from the squad on Monday morning despite playing in all five of Chelsea's Premier League matches so far, with it understood he is monitoring a minor injury.Daily Mail Sport · 25 Sept, 15:16
• Will Spain bring more pain for Tuchel’s tired England?Come Saturday, it will be 73 days since the pain and shame of Atlanta, when England, from a winning position in a World Cup semi-final, decided to do an England, and sit on their lead. What followed resembled a slow-motion crash test dummies video, Enzo Fernández first summoning the ghost of Andy Möller at Euro 96 with his high-camp cavorting celebration, and then Lautaro Martínez, unmarked, nodding home. Englishmen across the globe slumped, Croydon BoxPark fell deathly silent. Allowing Lionel Messi the freedom of Georgia on the inside-right channel had turned out to be a critical oversight.…Guardian Football · 25 Sept, 15:01
• Thomas Tuchel sends warning to Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer over England absencesTuchel focusing on the group currently at his disposal (Picture: Getty) Thomas Tuchel has warned Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer they risk losing their places in future England squad, insisting the Chelsea star’s latest absence serves as a ‘missed opportunity.’ Palmer was left out of England’s World…Metro · 25 Sept, 14:41
• Cole Palmer warned by Thomas Tuchel over latest ‘missed opportunity’ with EnglandThe Chelsea star has impressed this season after missing out on the World Cup squad, but dropped out of the squad with load management cited as the reasonIndependent Sport · 25 Sept, 14:30
• Micah Richards tells Thomas Tuchel to drop key England star ahead of Spain clashMicah Richards believes a two-cap England star deserves to play more (Photo: Getty) Micah Richards believes the time has come for one England star to be dropped after nearly a decade as a key player for the Three Lions. In their first match since falling short at the World Cup , England kick-off…Metro · 25 Sept, 13:47
• Where England Nations League tickets are still on sale ahead of Spain Wembley gameThomas Tuchel's side will face Spain, Czechia and Croatia in their opening stage of their UEFA Nations League campaign.Mirror Sport · 25 Sept, 13:46
• ‘Complete nonsense’ – Gary Lineker slams Thomas Tuchel claim about England fansGary Lineker found Thomas Tuchel’s recent comments ‘a bit odd’ (Photo: YouTube) Gary Lineker has dismissed England manager Thomas Tuchel ’s recent claims about what fans have told him as ‘complete nonsense’. The Three Lions take on Spain at Wembley on Saturday in their first game since finishing…Metro · 25 Sept, 10:44
• Why Spain test is 'pivotal' for Tuchel's England projectEngland go again. After World Cup heartbreak this summer they kick-off their Nations League campaign against Spain on Saturday at Wembley.Sky Sports · 25 Sept, 09:00
• 'He misses too many opportunities' - Tuchel frustrated by another Palmer absenceCole Palmer "misses too many opportunities" to play for England, says Thomas Tuchel.Sky Sports · 25 Sept, 08:02
• Anthony Gordon raises theory over England drop-outs and makes Ballon d'Or claimEngland have seen five players drop out of Thomas Tuchel's squad due to injury, and Anthony Gordon has a theory as to why those who play in the Premier League are more susceptible to knocksMirror Sport · 24 Sept, 22:30
• James Garner keen to live up to ‘mini-Valverde’ tag after late England callEverton midfielder’s spirit and intelligence earned him another chance and he is eager to test himself against Spain in the Nations League on Saturday “It’s a very good comparison,” James Garner says, and he is not kidding. It came from Thomas Tuchel in March after the England manager had watched the Everton midfielder impress on his international debut against Uruguay . He was up against Federico Valverde and Tuchel went big with his praise. Garner was a “mini Valverde”, he said after the 1-1 draw at Wembley. It was surely too much, despite the prefix that Tuchel attached, yet it was…Guardian Sport · 24 Sept, 19:00
• Thomas Tuchel has realised England’s ultimate challenge and only Spain have the answerThomas Tuchel has moved on from the World Cup and must now develop an ideology for England to harness ahead of Euro 2028Independent Sport · 24 Sept, 09:22
• Anthony Gordon: ‘English players can’t keep the ball like Spain. It’s not in our DNA’The Barcelona winger also admitted his surprise at being taken off during England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to ArgentinaIndependent Sport · 24 Sept, 08:23
• Anthony Gordon says England can't EVER control games like Spain and must play to our strengths - because he's seen keeping possession 'is not in English DNA' after Barcelona transferTuchel received widespread criticism, particularly over his comments that keeping the ball is not within England's 'DNA', amid complaints about his negative tactics.Daily Mail Sport · 24 Sept, 07:10
• 'We have our own strengths' – Gordon backs Tuchel’s DNA commentsAnthony Gordon has backed Thomas Tuchel's view that England's players have an inbuilt inability to control matches with possession - and has urged the team to embrace the country's traditional strengths.Sky Sports · 24 Sept, 07:00
• ‘It’s not in us’: Anthony Gordon backs Tuchel over England’s possession problemBarcelona 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…Guardian Sport · 24 Sept, 06:00
• Anthony Gordon admits 'surprise' at Thomas Tuchel decision in Argentina defeatEngland have met up for the first time since their heart-breaking defeat by Argentina in the semi-final of the World Cup when Thomas Tuchel's decisions came under scrutinyMirror Sport · 24 Sept, 06:00

In this story: Anthony Gordon · Thomas Tuchel · England · Spain · Cole Palmer · Wembley · Argentina

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