Alan Shearer believes England’s draw with Ghana was far from a “disaster”, though he admitted it served as a major “reality check” for the team. Meanwhile, Joe Hart noted that manager Thomas Tuchel now has “a lot to work on.”

After scoring four goals against Croatia in their opening match, England began sluggishly against Ghana. Despite dominating possession, the Three Lions failed to register a single shot on target in the first half and continued to struggle for rhythm after the break.

Overall, England recorded 19 attempts on goal, but only three were on target. Their best opportunity fell to Harry Kane, who fired over the crossbar, summing up a frustrating evening for Tuchel’s side.

Providing commentary, Shearer reflected on the performance, saying England now have a clearer view of where they stand. He remarked: “Not a disaster, but it’s definitely a reality check. England found it hard to find the right solutions tonight. They were too slow and didn’t make enough use of the wide areas.”

Pundits and former England internationals Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney, and Micah Richards echoed similar sentiments regarding the team’s display and their prospects going forward in the World Cup.

Richards commented: “England weren’t brave enough. Players were making too many safe passes. You need to show more courage.”

Hart added: “It’s important that we don’t get too high or too low after this. It could’ve been worse tonight. There’s still plenty to improve on.

“I expect them to put in a strong performance on Saturday night.”

Rooney, drawing on his own World Cup experience, added perspective: “Me and Joe know what it’s like to go out of a World Cup after just two games. This isn’t a disaster at all. They’ve qualified for the next round; it’s just about fixing small details.”

All three analysts suggested that Tuchel is likely to make changes for the upcoming match against Panama. The left flank may be reassessed, as Djed Spence replaced Nico O’Reilly for the Ghana game but O’Reilly impressed after coming on as a substitute.

There’s also optimism that England will face a smoother test against Panama, not only because of the difference in opposition quality but also since Tuchel will have time to address tactical issues before that fixture.

The Panama clash is scheduled for Saturday. Though England already sit atop their group, they will be determined to claim victory and head into the knockout stages as group winners.