Frustrated England held to World Cup stalemate with Ghana

England were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Ghana, as a compact Ghana back line stifled their opportunities. The Three Lions chalked up 19 shots but were contained by a deep and well structured Ghanaian defence. They only hit the target three times despite managing 78.8 per cent possession. It was the antithesis of the thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in England’s first game at this year’s World Cup. The draw leaves England sitting at the top of the Group L table. Ghana are level on four points but have an inferior goal difference. This live blog has now closed Full time: England 0-0 Ghana No shots on target in flat first half Sluggish start in the rain Team news – Guehi and Spence start ahead of Stones and O’Reilly Sort: Newest first Oldest first June 23, 2026 11:59 pm Thanks for tuning in Adam Millington That’s all from us for this evening as England were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in their second game at the 2026 World Cup.The result leaves them sitting top of Group L, level on four points with Ghana but ahead on goal difference.Their group stage campaign ends against Panama at 10pm on Saturday.For now, read the reaction from Boston:Mark Douglas: England are being haunted by a worrying World Cup trendPete Hall: England vs Ghana player ratings as 4/10 Gordon ‘non-existent’ again June 23, 2026 11:50 pm ‘I am not frustrated’ – Tuchel Adam Millington England struggled against Ghana’s low block (Photo: Getty)England manager Thomas Tuchel says that he he “saw it coming” after his side’s 0-0 draw with Ghana.Speaking to the BBC, he added that he was “not frustrated” after the game and that Ghana are a tricky opponent.“I saw it coming,” he said. “I knew that this could be a difficult game. I’ve hardly seen a team defend so physically and committed like Ghana did. It was difficult to break them down. You need to be patient, you need to be precise in the right moments, you need to commit and be brave. You can never open spaces for counter-attacks, we conceded only two and they were vary dangerous. I think at the end of the halves we found the rhythm. We were pushing and pushing, you need a bit of luck. It is what it is.”On the impact of the substitutes, he said that they provided “new energy”.Ghana “defended so intensely and with so much commitment, they were so physical that we knew that at a point the spaces would open up and we would have fresh legs,” said Tuchel. “They were dangerous in the wide areas. We couldn’t get it over the line.”Striker Harry Kane squandered an excellent chance to win the game, firing over from close range.“He had one chance that he normally never misses and he missed it today,” said Tuchel. “This will not be the first match like this. Even the third match against Panama, even though it’s the most unknown name, they were very good against Ghana.”“We only have three days now inbetween. Recovery and then two days to prepare and then we’re back in the plane and back to travel.” June 23, 2026 11:40 pm Player ratings as 4/10 Gordon ‘non-existent’ again Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Gordon has struggled to make an impact in either of England’s games so far (Photo: Reuters)GILLETTE STADIUM —We wanted champagne and ended up with a Boston tea party.We can now dump this match into Boston harbour and never mention it again. England will almost certainly still win the group, but after such zeal showed against Croatia, this flat performance provided Thomas Tuchel with more questions than answers.Carlos Queiroz is the master at nullifying opponents. England simply fell into his trap all too easily.Here’s is a selection of how the players rated:Anthony Gordon – 4/10Non-existent, again. Made some impressive defensive interventions, but in attack, Gordon has offered nothing all tournament. In no world can he start against Panama.Marc Guehi – 7/10Looked assured on his return to the side and very solid when under pressure. Aerially, he excelled when it mattered, too.Jordan Pickford – 5/10Looked shaky, again. Very fortunate in the second half as he raced from his line and got nowhere near the ball. Distribution not up to its usual standard.Read the full ratings here June 23, 2026 11:35 pm ‘An early goal opens the game up’ – Pickford Adam Millington England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, speaking to the BBC: “We knew it was always going to be tough. They were really hard to break down, we had our chances and had to be wary of the counter-attack. You need to get that first goal against them, an early goal opens up the game a lot more. We’ve got to be happy that we’re still top of the group. We’ve got a game against Panama, finish strong and top it.“They have the likes of Semenyo, some top, fast players. I felt like even though I didn’t make many saves it was just being in the right position at the right moment. It was hard work that people put in that people sometimes don’t see. It’s group stage football and it’s in our hands to top the group.“You play different teams every game and we just didn’t get that goal. We limited them to little chances, we played well and kept going but never managed to get that goal.” June 23, 2026 11:30 pm ‘Could’ve easily come away with the win’ – Kane Adam Millington England captain Harry Kane, speaking to the BBC: “It was one of those games. A difficult team to break down. The last 15 minutes of both halves we were at our best. It could’ve easily been a game where we came away with the win. In the end we didn’t concede many chances and controlled that well. We wanted the win but take the point.“I was just there waiting for an opportunity like that [where he sent a shot over the bar from close range], it was a game as a striker where you’re just waiting for the ball. I back myself to score that more often than not, it is what it is.“I was kind of man-marked for a lot of the game so didn’t have the space to drop deep and arrive later, but they also defended the box well. It was a game where we got better as we went along but you go through games like that.”Two HUGE chances for England as Nico O'Reilly hits the bar before Harry Kane shoots over! pic.twitter.com/5EwiccE8rl— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 23, 2026 June 23, 2026 11:25 pm England are being haunted by a worrying World Cup trend Mark DouglasNorthern Football Correspondent Reporting from Gillette StadiumThomas Tuchel has talked about creating history this summer but this drab goalless draw felt more like a worrying tournament retread for anaemic England.First game good, second game soporific. It is a trend that has followed England through the last two Euros and the previous World Cup in Qatar but rarely has the contrast been as stark as it was in the mizzling Massachusetts rain. After the rock and roll football of Dallas, this was more prog rock album filler from Tuchel and co.In their opener England had a willing dance partner in Croatia. Here they had Carlos Quieroz-marshalled Ghana, whose monochrome tactics were a stark contrast to their loud support.That’s their prerogative, though. It’s England’s to do something about it and despite all the attacking talent on show here – and their much-vaunted “finishers” – there was to be no way through.Read more here June 23, 2026 11:20 pm ‘No need to be negative’ – Rice Adam Millington England simply could not find a way through (Photo: Reuters)England’s Declan Rice says there is “no need to be negative or downbeat” after their 0-0 draw with Ghana.When asked about whether frustration was the overriding emotion, he told the BBC: “Yeah, I think so. It’s always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball as deep as they were. You’ve got to find solutions. Last 10 minutes we probably found more than we did all game and were unlucky not to score. We keep going and still have a great chance to top the group against Panama.”He also said that England could maybe have done a “little more” with the ball to find a way to beat Ghana.“You have to give credit to Ghana,” Rice said. “5-4-1 off the ball, very compact, tight spaces to play through. On the other hand, maybe we can do a little more with the ball and create a bit more. It was never going to be an easy game and now we have more to go to top the group.”Reacting to the draw, he added: “Loads of top nations drew their first game, there’s no need to be negative or downbeat. We need to stay positive and recover before the next match.” June 23, 2026 11:10 pm 19 shots, no goals Adam Millington England were in control throughout today, although for much of the game they were contained by Ghana’s low block.They chalked up 19 shots without scoring, their most at a World Cup since their 0-0 draw with Nigeria in 2002.They also had their most possession (78.8 per cent) at a World Cup game – the most by a side who has failed to score at a World Cup. June 23, 2026 11:00 pm Full time: England 0-0 Ghana Adam Millington It ends all square in Boston.Better in the second half from England, but still far from the display they produced against Croatia. June 23, 2026 10:51 pm England should be ahead Adam Millington England cannot find a way through (Photo: Getty)England 0-0 GhanaThree great chances for England, two of which should arguably have been scored.Bukayo Saka whips in an effort from range and the goalkeeper does well to tip it out.Nico O’Reilly then meets a delivery and heads it onto the bar.The rebound falls to Harry Kane, about six yards from goal, so you feel like there’s only one outcome. But he blasts it over. June 23, 2026 10:49 pm England lack imagination and flair out wide By Kevin Garside England have struggled with Ghana’s physicality and athleticism. Lacked imagination and flair out wide. Mad to think Cole Palmer is watching this from a beach in Ibiza. June 23, 2026 10:43 pm Ghana nearly find an opener Adam Millington England 0-0 GhanaEngland are lucky to get away with that one.Prince Adu is slipped through as Ghana counter-attack but his final touch is too heavy and the Three Lions manage to knock the ball away before he can shoot.Antoine Semenyo tries to get to the rebound but the flag goes up. June 23, 2026 10:37 pm Two changes in midfield for England Adam Millington England use the second-half hydration break to make two changes.Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers replace Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson. June 23, 2026 10:32 pm Gordon’s World Cup yet to take off Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Anthony Gordon has been replaced by Bukayo Saka (Photo: Reuters) Reporting from Gillette StadiumBetter from England, but Ghana are still proving a tough nut to crack. It will be interesting to see how Saka fares on his return. The game will open up at some point. Anthony Gordon’s World Cup is yet to take off. June 23, 2026 10:30 pm Tuchel makes a double substitution Adam Millington England 0-0 GhanaThe England boss looks to the bench as he attempts to find a way to help England break the deadlock.Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence are replaced by Bukayo Saka and Nico O’Reilly June 23, 2026 10:22 pm Ghana opening up… slightly Adam Millington England 0-0 GhanaGhana are starting to push forwards and England are starting to find a couple of gaps.There are successive cries of ‘SHOOT’ as the ball is knocked about the edge of the box, before Noni Madueke has an effort blocked.Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence linked up to create that opportunity. Gordon then tries to whip one towards goal after it rebounds but it’s straight at the goalkeeper.Finally, we have the first shot on target. June 23, 2026 10:15 pm No real point of difference from England By Kevin Garside No real point of difference from England tonight. Jude Bellingham is more an 8 than a 10. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson too similar. Kobbie Mainoo must be under consideration and Morgan Rodgers has to start at 10. June 23, 2026 10:10 pm Second half begins Adam Millington England 0-0 GhanaLet’s hope that something – anything – happens in the final third in this half.The opening 45 minutes were a slightly tough watch. June 23, 2026 10:05 pm ‘Has all the feel of a qualifier’ Daniel StoreySport Feature Writer of the Year England had three first-half shots but none hit the target (Photo: Getty)Reporting from the United StatesThis has all the feel of a qualifier – I’m thinking the 3-0 aggregate scoreline from the two games against Andorra. Ultimately England won’t face teams that play like this in the knockout stages, but they haven’t created anything. They need wingers on who are prepared to take on a full-backI’d also bring Rashford on at half-time, if only because I’m sick of screaming at Anthony Gordon to try to do something, anything, everything he’s not. June 23, 2026 10:01 pm ‘Been difficult to break Ghana down’ Evan BartlettSports Editor Thomas Tuchel’s assistant Anthony Barry has been speaking to the BBC at half-time.After a forthright critique of their first-half display against Croatia last week, Barry is more circumspect this time around.“It’s a game we expected to be a difficult challenge, a difficult opponent,” he said. “They defend deep, deep, deep. Probably deeper than we expected. The spaces are really condensed. It’s been difficult to break them down so the headline for us is probably patience in the game“The headline for us, is probably patience, patience in the game. Continue to attack with a stable base, because Ghana are a team with exceptional counter attack options.“Overall, just stay with it. We’re a team that’s always been able to open a game up, with a set piece or with our boys from the bench. So our message is patience and just keep going.”Read more: The straight-talking Scouser ridding England of Southgate’s nice-guy culture