England arrived in Boston full of confidence after their thrilling victory over Croatia. They left with a point, plenty of possession, and a growing list of questions after Ghana battled to a stubborn 0-0 draw that kept Group L wide open.
Thomas Tuchel’s side knew victory would secure their place in the knockout rounds. Instead, they ran into a disciplined Ghana team that refused to be overwhelmed by reputation or rankings.
The Three Lions dominated the ball from the opening whistle. They moved it patiently and often camped inside Ghana’s half, but possession rarely translated into clear opportunities. Despite controlling proceedings, England failed to register a shot on target until the 57th minute.
That statistic summed up a frustrating evening.
Declan Rice came closest in the first half when he headed over from a dangerous Noni Madueke delivery. Harry Kane also saw an effort blocked, while Jude Bellingham was denied by excellent defensive work from Thomas Partey.
For all of England’s territorial dominance, Ghana remained organised and composed.
Carlos Queiroz’s men arrived with a clear plan. They sat deep, stayed compact, and waited for moments to strike on the counterattack. It was not glamorous football, but it was effective.
England enjoyed almost 80 percent possession, yet Ghana arguably produced the game’s most controversial moment.
Substitute Prince Adu burst into the penalty area before appearing to be brought down by Ezri Konsa. Neither the referee nor VAR intervened, leaving Ghana furious.
“Is VAR still working in the World Cup? We still have VAR?” Queiroz said afterwards.
“Once again, VAR went for a coffee. It’s natural, I would like to also take my coffees once in a while, but it was a clear penalty, red card.”
His frustration reflected Ghana’s belief that they could have left with even more than a point.
England eventually increased the pressure in the closing stages. Bukayo Saka forced an excellent save from Benjamin Asare, whose calm display under pressure was one of the night’s standout performances.
Nico O’Reilly then rattled the crossbar before Marc Guéhi saw a header cleared off the line.
The biggest chance fell to Kane three minutes from time. O’Reilly’s effort rebounded kindly into his path, but the England captain somehow lifted the ball over an open goal.
“I was waiting for the ball to bounce and it did but I couldn’t get over it,” Kane admitted. “I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in.”
While England’s attack struggled, Guéhi impressed in defence. The Crystal Palace defender completed a remarkable number of passes and provided composure throughout, justifying Tuchel’s decision to start him.
The result continues a familiar pattern. England have now stumbled in the second group game of four consecutive major tournaments, following similar frustrations against Scotland, the United States, and Denmark.
Tuchel remained calm after the final whistle.
“Not frustrated. I saw it coming as I knew this would be a difficult game,” he said. “Ghana are physical and so committed. Full credit to them.”
For Ghana, the draw feels like a victory. For England, it is a reminder that World Cups rarely follow the script.
