World Cup 2026: Ghana draw a reality check for England – Paul Merson

Former England midfielder Paul Merson has described England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana in the World Cup as a “reality check” for Thomas Tuchel’s side after they were frustrated in Group L.

England, who had opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia, were unable to break down a disciplined Ghana side in their second group match, leaving both teams well placed to progress but with clear questions over England’s attacking edge.

“It’s back to reality. You can’t score four in every game, but you’d expect to break them down in the end. That’s something for Tuchel to look at, but you’re not winning the World Cup in the second game of the tournament. We need to have trust in the manager.”

Ghana’s structure frustrates England

Ghana arrived with a clear tactical plan, sitting deep and denying space as they attempted to blunt England’s attacking rhythm from the opening whistle.

Despite close to 80% possession in the first half, England were restricted to half chances as Ghana crowded out central areas and frequently doubled up on captain Harry Kane whenever he dropped into attacking positions.

The first half also produced a rare statistical quirk at the tournament, as neither side registered a shot on target. The atmosphere at the stadium, located near Boston, briefly lifted when former England captain David Beckham appeared on the big screen.

Tuchel changes fail to unlock defence

Tuchel responded after the break by introducing Bukayo Saka and Nico O’Reilly, later adding Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Marcus Rashford in search of a breakthrough.

However, Ghana remained compact and dangerous on the counter through Antoine Semenyo and substitute Prince Kwabena Adu.

Ghana nearly snatched a winner late on, underlining their threat despite limited possession.

The draw marked England’s fourth consecutive second group-stage match draw at major tournaments, stretching back across two European Championships and now two World Cups, highlighting a recurring issue in navigating tight, tactical encounters.