England vs. Ghana score: Three Lions held goalless in second World Cup game as Africans earn surprise draw

England were forced to settle for a share of the points at the top of Group L as an exceptional defensive display from Ghana earned themselves an impressive 0-0 draw in Foxborough, Mass.

This was certainly not the free-flowing England that had dominated Croatia in the opener but such a performance was always going to be a great deal tougher against a Ghana side who dared them to break down a low block without leaving the back door open for the sort of dangerous counters that came at the death. Theirs was a quite exceptional rearguard, one that will almost certainly guarantee them a berth in the knockout stages.

If the first game had been Tuchel adapting his methods to the needs of a Premier League squad, this was England playing their manager’s way. Perhaps they even leaned too far towards the steady control of their manager’s best teams and even the German was urging his players to push the ball up the field with a little bit more verve and speed.

That is easier said than done against the defensive structure of a Carlos Queiroz team. He might have only had three games in charge of Ghana but the former Manchester United assistant is a master at ensuring his side get the basics right. Ten outfield players behind the ball, doubling up on the wingers and collapsing on any ball carrier that broke into the box. Four yellow shirts surrounding Noni Madueke as he darted forward told the story of the first half. As much as England could and should have moved the ball quicker, they were trying to break apart an excellently organised low block.

This England XI did not quite have the pieces to break that block open. Anthony Gordon and in particular Madueke had excelled in a more up-down contest against Croatia, this time both struggled with their final ball. Jude Bellingham is a box-to-box midfielder so dangerous in the final third that it makes sense to play him higher up the field. On a day like Tuesday, that position might have been better suited to a lock picker.

Though England had three-quarters of possession, they struggled to turn pressure and territory into good shots. It was not until the 57th minute that they registered their first shot on target, their first 14 efforts worth a combined 0.66 expected goals. The quality looks just weren’t coming.

Indeed, England were fortunate that with 11 minutes to go Prince Kwabena Adu took a heavy touch after Eberechi Eze had dawdled and given Ghana a chance to counter. Only a heavy touch by the Viktoria Plzen forward and a fine tackle by Ezri Konsa denied what might have been a shock defeat. Jordan Pickford too was lucky that referee Said Martinez saw a foul when he clashed with an onrushing Abdul Fatawu.

Those nervy moments woke England up and a flurry of late chances came their way. Bukayo Saka was the first to put Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare under real pressure with an effort curled towards the far post before Nico O’Reilly headed a Reece James cross against the bar. It seemed Kane had judged the chance perfectly to convert the rebound but somehow from eight yards out he volleyed over.

England’s game in microcosm, that. It need not be a crisis for Tuchel. So long as his side beat Panama by a margin equal to or better than any Ghana win against Croatia, they will have top spot in the group. From there on out, they may not meet many teams as intent on and capable of executing a low block as this one.