This Wednesday, Gordon attended England's pre-match press conference ahead of the Spain fixture. During the fourth segment of the press conference (which was divided into five parts due to its length), he reflected on the World Cup semifinal against Argentina.

I hate to bring up the semifinal again, but everyone is still talking about it. Were you surprised to be substituted?

To be honest, yes, I was surprised, because I had just scored. I'm a player who thrives on adrenaline, and after scoring, my confidence would peak, making me feel unstoppable. I felt on top of the world. Especially on such a big stage, I was playing really well at that moment.

That said, as a winger, substitutions are fairly common. The winger position is often the first one coaches adjust. Substitutes on the bench are typically quick and powerful, and coaches want to introduce fresh, energetic players to put pressure on opponents. Of course, this particular substitution carried special weight, but generally speaking, wingers are regularly rotated, and I've become accustomed to it.

There's been considerable debate over Tuchel's tactical adjustments in the second half, particularly in the final 30 minutes. During the water break, did the entire team receive clear tactical instructions? Was everyone aligned in those closing stages?

It was difficult. We always prepared with the mindset and tactics we honed in training. But I felt that in actual matches, we couldn't replicate the level we achieved in training. If we could, we'd dominate every opponent, but that's not reality. Every match is a battle.

Even against Norway, I felt we were the stronger team and could have completely controlled the game, but we didn't. So I understand why the head coach opted for a more cautious, defensive approach—the same approach that got us through the first two rounds. Outsiders might not understand, but being inside the team, I do.

As players, we could have shouldered more responsibility and actively taken control of the game. If we had done that, the head coach wouldn't have needed to play it safe. In football, everyone always criticizes the head coach, and the coach always accepts responsibility. But in my view, the countless split-second decisions made on the pitch shouldn't all rest on one person.

In the semifinal, we had our strongest XI on the field, but we didn't perform well in the final 20 minutes. That's something the head coach can barely influence from the sidelines. As a team, we all need to take responsibility together, and we shouldn't blame the coach who did everything he could to lead us to the championship.

You mentioned differences between Spanish and English football. Playing alongside Barcelona's forwards, how has your style of play evolved?

My playing style is definitely evolving. At Newcastle, under Eddie Howe, it was completely different—high intensity, end-to-end action, rapid pace. But at Barcelona, with all the possession we have, the game slows down, and we often control the tempo. I've had to adapt to this new style.

However, I experienced a similar possession-based approach during my time in England's youth teams, so it's not entirely new to me. I've always valued football intelligence and smart decision-making. Sometimes I should be more selfish in front of goal, but that's not who I am. Barcelona suits me perfectly and has showcased qualities in me that were overlooked before. People only associate me with pace and pressing, but my abilities extend far beyond those two things.

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