Harry Kane hits the bar late on as England stumble against an organized Ghana side inspired by an outstanding Opoku and goalkeeper Asare.
England missed the chance to secure first place in Group L after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After the exciting 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opener, Thomas Tuchel’s side delivered a much less convincing performance, struggling to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined Ghanaian team that defended bravely and nearly pulled off a famous victory.
The spotlight inevitably fell on Harry Kane, who endured a difficult evening and squandered England’s best opportunity in the second half, rattling the crossbar from close range in what was a rare miss for one of the tournament’s most prolific scorers.
England enjoyed more possession throughout the contest but lacked fluidity and imagination in the final third. Jude Bellingham was unable to impose himself on the game, while Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke provided only sporadic flashes of danger.
Declan Rice once again embodied England’s fighting spirit, covering ground relentlessly and attempting to spark attacks whenever possible, but his efforts were not enough to break down a resilient Ghana defense.
Carlos Queiroz’s side deserves enormous credit for its performance. Goalkeeper Lawrence Asare produced several key saves, but the true star was central defender Jonathan Opoku, who dominated aerial duels and repeatedly snuffed out England’s attacks.
Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo worked tirelessly up front, while youngster Yirenkyi continued to impress after scoring the winner against Panama in the previous match.
For England, the draw serves as a warning sign ahead of the knockout rounds. The Three Lions remain favorites to progress, but the dependence on Kane’s finishing ability was evident whenever their captain failed to deliver.
Ghana, meanwhile, keeps its qualification hopes alive heading into the final round of Group L fixtures.
Match Report
England 0-0 Ghana
England (4-2-3-1)
Pickford 6; James 5.5, Konsa 6, Guehi 6, Spence 5.5 (66′ O’Reilly 6); Rice 6.5, Anderson 6 (73′ Eze sv); Madueke 6.5 (83′ Rashford sv), Bellingham 5.5 (73′ Rogers 6), Gordon 5.5 (66′ Saka 6); Kane 5.
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Ghana (4-3-3)
Asare 7; Senaya 6 (87′ Peprah sv), Adjetey 6.5, Opoku 7, Mensah 6.5; Yirenkyi 6, Partey 6.5, Sibo 6; Semenyo 6.5, Ayew 6 (66′ Adu 6, 95′ Baba sv), Williams 5.5 (66′ Fatawu 6).
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Referee: Martinez
Yellow Cards: Rice, Williams
Red Cards: None
Group L Standings
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | +2 |
| Ghana | 4 | +1 |
| Croatia | 0 | -2 |
| Panama | 0 | -1 |
