England’s struggle against Ghana’s defence
England were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in their second group stage match at the World Cup, a result that leaves their group standing uncertain. The performance was described as tepid and lacklustre, with Thomas Tuchel‘s squad struggling to break down Ghana‘s compact defence. This draw followed England‘s 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening Group L fixture, and the team aimed to maintain that momentum.
Ghana, under new manager Carlos Queiroz, adopted an ultra-defensive 4-5-1 system, making it difficult for England to create clear opportunities. Queiroz, in only his fourth game in charge, set up his team to prioritise defensive diligence, with their supporters seemingly content with this approach. England‘s first shot on target did not come until the 57th minute of the match.
The first half saw England dominate possession but fail to convert it into meaningful chances. Statistics showed Tuchel‘s team had six shots before the interval, none of which were on target. Ghana‘s goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare, was largely untroubled during this period.
Late opportunities for England
Despite the defensive challenges, England had some late opportunities to secure a win. Substitutes played a key role in these moments. Bukayo Saka forced a save from Asare with a low shot, and Nico O’Reilly hit the top of the post with a header after Reece James delivered a cross. Following O’Reilly‘s effort, Harry Kane had a chance from the rebound but shot high over the bar.
In stoppage time, Marc Guéhi saw a header cleared from in front of the line, denying England a late winner. These late pushes, however, were not enough to break the deadlock against a resilient Ghana side that managed only two shots throughout the entire game.
There were moments of concern for England defensively as well. In the 79th minute, Ghana‘s substitute Prince Kwabena Adu advanced into the box, leading to a challenge from Ezri Konsa. Ghana‘s appeals for a penalty were loud, but the referee did not award one, with Konsa receiving the benefit of the doubt. Earlier, Jordan Pickford was involved in a reckless dash from his line, colliding with Adu, but was fortunate to be awarded a free-kick.
Player performances and selection issues
Several England players received low ratings for their performances. Jordan Pickford‘s decision-making was questioned after his challenge on Prince Adu. Reece James started with promise but his influence faded, while Ezri Konsa was deemed fortunate to escape a penalty decision. Marc Guéhi had the most touches but did not possess the qualities to help break down Ghana‘s defence.
Djed Spence, a surprise inclusion, struggled to find his rhythm, often drifting infield and hindering England‘s momentum. Elliot Anderson, an all-action midfielder, was criticised for being clumsy defensively and not being brave enough with his passing. Declan Rice‘s set-piece delivery was below his usual standards, and Noni Madueke‘s influence waned after a bright start.
Jude Bellingham, despite his efforts to spark the team, was closely marked and had limited impact. Anthony Gordon, starting ahead of Marcus Rashford, struggled against Ghana‘s right-back Marvin Senaya and failed to impress. Harry Kane, who missed a significant opportunity late in the game, was described as being off the pace, an uncharacteristic performance for the striker. Nico O’Reilly and Bukayo Saka, coming off the bench, showed more promise, with Saka posing a threat that England lacked for much of the match.
The draw means England did not maintain the momentum from their opening victory. Tuchel‘s assistant, Anthony Barry, noted at half-time that Ghana defended even deeper than anticipated. The team will now look ahead to their next fixture against Panama.
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Source: theguardian.com
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”