England laboured to a lacklustre goalless draw against Ghana tonight with Thomas Tuchel unable to find a way to break down Carlos Queiroz’s defensive gameplan.
There was no repeat of the swashbuckling win over Croatia last week as the vastly experienced Queiroz set up in a rigid 4-5-1 that stifled England and prevented the Three Lions’ attacking players from creating anything meaningful.
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare did not have to make a save of note until late on despite Tuchel bringing on a raft of attacking players to inject some penetration into his side.
That enabled Ghana the odd opportunity on the break and England were lucky to escape with 11 minutes to go as Prince Adu burst clear only to be thwarted by a combination of Ezri Konsa and Jordan Pickford. Konsa can also consider himself fortunate the officials did not deem his tackle to be reckless as he got none of the ball and plenty of the man.
England captain Harry Kane wasted England’s best chance seven minutes later, lashing high over the bar from six yards after Nico O’Reilly’s header had come back off the bar.
Tuchel fails test as England held
Tuchel was brought in with a reputation for tactical flexibility and game management, yet neither were on show as England’s approach remained largely the same throughout a game as dismal as the Boston weather.
England had 78.8% possession but did very little with it with Kane anonymous, Jude Bellingham a peripheral figure and new Barcelona man Anthony Gordon having a shocking night on the left wing.
The second half was slightly brighter than the first, although that was not saying much after an opening 45 minutes in which England huffed and puffed but barely offered any attacking threat.
Declan Rice had two half-chances, the first a 30-yard free-kick that fizzed over the bar and the second a header from a Noni Madueke cross that drifted harmlessly over.
Kane saw another effort bundled clear as the half drew to a close and with Ghana, despite the best efforts of the tireless Jordan Ayew, quite happy to sit back the game meandered to the break.
England improve but it’s too little, too late
The first half hour of the second period followed a similar pattern, England having all the ball but lacking inspiration.
Madueke saw a deflected shot headed clear and then curled another effort over the bar.
Asare saved a routine effort from Kane and substitute Bukayo Saka nodded a Madueke cross over.
A raft of changes that saw the likes of Saka, Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford come on had belatedly sparked England into life, although that did leave them exposed at the other end.
Saka forced Asare to make his first good save of the night with five minutes to go, diving to his right to keep out a curling shot.
O’Reilly and Kane both came close – quite how the Bayern Munich goal machine missed the rebound after the ball had fallen kindly for him inside the six-yard box only he will know – and Marc Guehi then had an effort bundled off the line.
The late flurry came to naught, though, with Ghana hanging on for the point they arguably deserved.
