Anthony Gordon says that controlling games is not in the English “DNA” but the Three Lions could win major tournaments if they stop “trying to replicate Spain”.

The Barcelona winger was speaking at St George’s Park as the England squad prepare to take on world champions Spain on Saturday – their first match together since the World Cup.

England lost their semi-final 2-1 to Argentina, before beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match.

Ending on a high meant England achieved their best finish in a World Cup since 1966.

But many have criticised the manner in which England were beaten by Argentina, after head coach Thomas Tuchel substituted goalscorer Gordon and went to a back five.

The tactical tweak invited pressure, with Enzo Fernandez equalising before Lautaro Martinez scored a stoppage-time winner.

Gordon said that he had “never felt worse”, after the game and believes that the “scar” left by defeat may mean the England squad take a different approach in the next tournament.

“[The] scar doesn’t have to be a negative one because it might lead us to victory in the next tournaments,” Gordon said.

“We can’t keep looking at other countries and trying to be like them, because we’re not them – we’re English and we have our own strengths which they don’t have, so maybe we start playing the way we’re good at.”

Gordon moved to Barcelona from Newcastle for £69.3m in the summer.

He says that the experience of playing in La Liga – with and against some of Spain’s top stars – has made him realise just how different the nation’s approach is to football.

He is not convinced English players can be taught to play more like the Spanish, with their intricate possession-based game.

“I’m speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain,” Gordon said.

“Because I’m in Spain, I know we have just as good players, but they have different qualities, so why are you trying to make those players the same as the Spanish players? Because the Spanish players lack the things that we have and vice versa.”

England have lost two consecutive European Championship finals, and been beaten by France and Argentina in the past two World Cups.

Those outcomes have led to repeated questions about whether the team are good enough at controlling possession against elite nations.

Spain won the World Cup by beating Argentina and dominated with 65% of the ball in the final, restricting opponents led by Lionel Messi to just two shots in 120 minutes of play, neither of which hit the target.

Spain’s particular style will test England again this weekend, and the Wembley hosts will look to find a response – but perhaps not by copying their opponents.

“It’s not in the English DNA,” Gordon said.

“I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught because now I think, playing in Spain, I can speak with an educated view on the way they keep the ball is different.

“I even look at some of the decisions they take on the ball sometimes and think I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.

“It’s the way they’re built. I don’t know whether it is something that maybe we can’t ever put a name to, but they’re definitely built different.”

Gordon’s goal in the semi-final capped what was an impressive tournament for the 25-year-old and briefly had England supporters dreaming of World Cup glory.

The winger started five of England’s games and also provided four assists.

He was taken off 17 minutes after putting the Three Lions ahead against Argentina and says that he was surprised to be substituted.

He says that after scoring he plays “off adrenaline” and “goes into an untouchable mode of confidence”.

“It makes me feel on top of the world, especially in that moment on that stage. I felt really good,” he said.

“But as a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It’s normal [for wingers].

“Obviously that substitution was different but in that moment probably yeah, but in general as a winger I expect it a lot of the time.”

England had battled to a 3-2 win over Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, where they played with 10 men for over 35 minutes after Jarell Quansah’s red card.

According to Gordon, the manner of that last-16 victory was a factor in the players’ thinking when trying to get over the line against Argentina.

The winger also suggested that the team did not match the performances that they were creating in training.

If they had, Gordon says, they “would have dominated everyone”.

He defended Tuchel’s “more safe and more defensive” tactics, which sparked external criticism and in-camp disappointment.

“We shouldn’t try and blame one man who’s obviously trying his best and trying to win the cup for us all,” Gordon said.

“As players, we could have done more to take the initiative to control the [Argentina] game. I think if we do that the manager doesn’t make the decision [to use a back five].

“For me, we had the best team, we had the best players on the pitch in that semi-final, and in the last 20 minutes we didn’t play the best football.

“That’s something the manager can’t really affect from the sideline, so I think as a group everyone together should take responsibility.”