Anthony Gordon has said England must stop trying to emulate Spain and play to their Premier League strengths to win another major tournament.
The Three Lions finished third in this summer's World Cup finals but their wait to add to 1966's sole success at international level continues.
England's second-half collapse in the semi-final against Argentina reignited a longstanding debate over their ability to retain the ball against top sides with boss Thomas Tuchel hinting he may need to "embrace the chaos" of a riskier approach in order to win Euro 2028.
Gordon left Newcastle for Barcelona just before the tournament in a deal which could be worth up to €80 million and the 25-year-old's time in Spain has led him to believe England must look to within to find the improvement needed to lift another trophy despite the Spanish's possession-based style often being held up as the exemplar to follow.
"I think culturally, it's not just that tournament or that [Argentina] game where we couldn't control a game England as a nation, we don't have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do," he said.
"It's not in us. 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. It's much different than I've ever experienced playing in this country.
"So, I'm not sure we can ever get that, but we can definitely get better or maybe go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is play physical, play direct football, and on the counterattack. You can go either way, and there's no perfect way to win a football match. It'll be interesting to see what we do.
"Maybe we're at that point. I'm probably not the best person to say that. I don't know. I'm speaking from a point of view where I feel like we are trying to replicate Spain because I'm in Spain now. I know we've got just as good players, but they have different qualities. So why try and make them same players, the same as the Spanish players? Because the Spanish players lack the things that that we have, and vice versa.
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"I don't want to speak because I'm not the manager, so I'm not going to control the tactics or how we play, but I think we need to stop looking elsewhere as a country, and maybe be proud of who we are, what we are, the things we have, and stop comparing with other countries because we're English. We're not Spanish or French or other countries who have succeeded."
Gordon scored in the 55th-minute as England took the lead against Argentina only for the team to sit back and eventually concede twice late on to lose 2-1 with Lautaro Martínez scoring a stoppage-time winner.
Between those two goals, England registered just 12 per cent possession and Tuchel went to a back five with a series of cautious substitutions as they failed to hold on in Atlanta.
Gordon's 72nd-minute withdrawal was the first change Tuchel made and when asked if he was surprised to be substituted, the winger said: "Yeah, I was, being totally honest. Only because I'd just scored, so I'm the type of player that, I've said before, I'm really good when I play off adrenaline.
"When I score, I normally don't have many bad games because I get 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.
"But as a winger, to be honest, I come off most games. It's normal. It's usually the position that is targeted first for substitutions because the players on the bench in your position are usually quick and really good as well."
Gordon added that he may never get over the loss to Argentina, even though England secured modest consolation by beating France 6-4 to secure third place and will co-host the next Euros.
"Being totally honest, I think any time you lose anything of value in life, whether it be a person or something like a match or anything you really want to have or win or anything of large value, I think when you lose, you'll never be the same person," he said.
"It leaves a scar, but that scar doesn't always have to be a negative one. You can be a better person for it."