England stalled by Ghana in goalless draw

England failed to replicate the fluent attacking football that saw them sweep past Croatia as Ghana held them to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Boston Stadium. Victory would secure a place in the last-32 stage for Thomas Tuchel's side, but the African nation provided a sobering reality check through disciplined organisation and resilient defending.

A disjointed performance saw England take 57 minutes to register a single shot on target. Ghana, ranked 64th in the world, sat deep and happily conceded possession, leaving England lacking the creative spark required to break the deadlock.

Tuchel turned to his substitutes in the 2nd half to inject urgency. Bukayo Saka, managing an Achilles issue, replaced the quiet Anthony Gordon and forced a fine diving save from Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. Moments later, Nico O'Reilly headed against the crossbar, while Marc Guehi saw another headed effort cleared off the line during a frantic closing spell.

Despite late English pressure, defensive vulnerabilities remained on display during Ghanaian counter-attacks. England appeared highly fortunate not to concede a penalty late in the game when Ezri Konsa brought down Prince Kwabena Adu inside the penalty area without connecting with the ball.

The result keeps England top of Group L, though qualification for the knockout phase remains unconfirmed until the final group match against Panama in New Jersey. While no reason for panic exists, the fixture served as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. Tuchel now faces selection dilemmas, with Gordon's starting spot under threat from Marcus Rashford after 2 quiet performances, though Noni Madueke remained a lively bright spark on the flank.

-BBC