You almost had to feel sorry for Thomas Tuchel. Six days after engineering one of England’s most thrilling World Cup performances in years — a breathless 4-2 demolition of Croatia — the German coach watched his side turn into pumpkins in the Massachusetts heat. England 0, Ghana 0. Boston, June 23. And somewhere, Gareth Southgate was smiling.
Because this is England at a major tournament. They win you over with a blockbuster, then invite you back to watch paint dry. This was their fourth straight major tournament in which they’ve dropped points in their second group game — Scotland in 2021, USA in 2022, Denmark in 2024. Ghana 2026 is now on the cursed list.
78% Possession. Zero Goals. Zero First-Half Shots on Target.
Let that sink in. England had the ball for nearly four-fifths of the match and couldn’t manage a single shot on target in the entire first half against a side ranked 60 places below them. Ghana sat deep, defended in a compact block, and executed Carlos Queiroz’s game plan to ruthless perfection.
Noni Madueke probed down the right. Bellingham drifted between the lines. Anthony Gordon’s first meaningful contribution came in the 57th minute — a tame effort straight at Benjamin Asare. England’s first shot on target. In the 57th minute.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice earned England’s first booking of the tournament, Bellingham got into a half-time confrontation with Queiroz on the touchline — requiring Rice and Morgan Rogers to step in as peacemakers — and Djed Spence was filmed appearing to snub Thomas Partey’s pre-match handshake. Drama everywhere. Goals? Nowhere.
The Miss That Will Haunt Kane
Then came the 87th minute. The moment. Substitute Nico O’Reilly rattled the crossbar with a header. The ball dropped to Harry Kane — six yards out, goal completely gaping. The man with 69 club and international goals since August. England’s all-time leading scorer. The most lethal striker on the planet. He blazed it over the bar.
Just to twist the knife further, Marc Guéhi turned in a cross in stoppage time, only for it to be cleared off the line in the dying seconds. England’s afternoon in one image: so close, so painfully far.
Queiroz Goes to War with VAR
Ghana weren’t just defensive — they nearly won it. A Prince Kwabena Adu counter ended with Ezri Konsa sliding in dangerously in the box. No penalty. No VAR. Queiroz, never a man to hide his feelings, was incandescent post-match.
“Is VAR still working in the World Cup? I have some doubts — a clear penalty against England they need to give to Ghana.” He insisted his side deserved the draw, and it’s hard to argue. Jordan Ayew made more high-intensity pressures than any striker in Round 1 of this tournament. The Black Stars didn’t park the bus — they drove it straight at England on the counter.
What’s Next?
England go into their Panama finale with four points and progression in their own hands. But Tuchel needs answers fast. Where is the creativity when opponents sit deep? Why does Bellingham disappear in these matches? And can Kane rediscover his predatory instinct before the knockouts arrive?
Panama on Saturday offers a chance to restore confidence. But if England continue to rely on opposition mistakes to manufacture chances, the knockout stage will be a very different story.
The Three Lions have been warned. Ghana just delivered the memo — in Boston, with zero shots on target.
Man of the Match: Bellingham
