Tuyển Anh chỉ biết lắc đầu ngao ngán trước bức tường vàng kiên cố của Ghana, khiến đoàn quân của Thomas Tuchel phải bó tay.

The team that loves to sing about a “Wonderwall” couldn’t break down a yellow wall.

The Boston Stadium DJ eschewed playing England’s celebratory Oasis song. There was nothing to celebrate. They got a point, but that was all they deserved against the well-organised Ghana midfield and defence. England’s high hopes were broken on a low block.

Ghana were so well prepared by Carlos Queiroz. They blocked and intercepted and headed clear, so frustrating England in the first half that Jude Bellingham left a foot in on Jerome Opoku. An angry Queiroz made his displeasure very clear to Bellingham. Queiroz’s players were busy high-fiving as the half closed, scoreless and largely chanceless. Ranked 65th in the world, Ghana were thwarting the fourth best in the Fifa billing.

England could not break Ghana down in their second Group L match

Harry Kane during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Ghana (Image credit: Getty Images)

As against Croatia, England again got off to a nervy start. Tuchel shuffled his back-four to try to bring some more security. He brought Marc Guehi in as the left-sided centre-back. Guehi was promptly beaten in the air by Jordan Ayew. Tuchel partly opted for the greater pace of Djed Spence at left-back against danger man Antoine Semenyo, who promptly started on the other flank. Inaki Williams was up against Spence. Semenyo’s diligent work on the left included tracking back and joining Gideon Mensah in doubling up on Noni Madueke.

England fans grew in exasperation at the team’s travails but were initially unperturbed. They’d gathered in huge number for hours in advance outside the home of the Patriots, paying up to $200 for parking, singing about drinking all the local beer, as if the Tartan Army had left any.

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They chanted about Thomas Partey, about the 'World In Motion', the years of hurt and their determination to reach the final.

The game provided little evidence or hope of living with elite teams like France, Argentina or Spain. England lacked some magic, someone to provide the imagination or technical finesse to open up Ghana. Only Bellingham looked to have the class and the edge.

There were moments of promise until the hydration break killed off any semblance of momentum. Reece James had a promising run, Declan Rice put a free-kick over, James hit a long switch to Anthony Gordon, but it was largely uninspiring and unthreatening.

With temperatures hardly nudging above 20C, and drizzle in the air, Fifa’s deeply unpopular hydration break – commercial break – arrived to widespread derision.

The frustration was exacerbated as the game had just been stopped for James and Ayew to be assessed for concussion and patched up. Tuchel did take the opportunity of the subsequent hydration break to urge England to play it “short, short” and then “switch” and flood forward, trying to beat the block.

Thomas Tuchel faced difficult questions after England's draw with Ghana (Image credit: Getty Images)

Madueke did finally break free, lifting in a cross that Rice headed over. Harry Kane wriggled his way down the inside-right channel but a yellow blanket was thrown across him. Jonas Adjetey and Opuku were immense, clearing danger whether airborne or on the ground. England simply lacked a game-changer. Queiroz outthought Tuchel.

Anthony Barry, Tuchel’s assistant, spoke at the break of the need for “patience”. Tuchel stayed patient with his starting XI before finally sending on Bukayo Saka for the subdued Gordon and Nico O’Reilly for Spence. Ghana remained a threat on the counter and Bellingham did well to dispossess the flying Semenyo.

The lively Marvin Seneya had a shot blocked but worse almost befell England just before the second hydration break. Jordan Pickford raced out of his area, attempting to beat Prince Adu to the through ball. In a blur of limbs, the pair fell to earth. It looked a free-kick to Ghana and a yellow card for Pickford. But the Honduran referee, Said Martinez, erred on England’s side – to some surprise amongst neutrals and considerable anger amongst Ghanaians.

England vs Ghana; the lineup (Image credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

The unnecessary extra break drew more boos.

Tuchel changed again, sending on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers for Elliot Anderson and Bellingham. Ghana were looking more of a threat on the counter. With 13 minutes remaining, Prince fell under a heavy challenge from Ezri Konsa, who was incredibly fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty and collecting a card. Konsa leapt in and his right boot cut across the Ghanaian's knee.

Marcus Rashford finally came on as the clock ticked down and England desperately fought for the win. Saka cut in from the right and his low, left-footed shot was parried by Benjamin Asare. O’Reilly’s header hit the bar, Kane fired over, but Ghana’s defenders deserved their point. England have work to do, and cannot now rest and rotate against Panama on Saturday.