· 24 June 2026

England were held to a stalemate by Ghana in their second group-stage fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup yesterday.

The Three Lions have now played out draws in their second group match at each of their last four major international tournaments.

Here are three major insights drawn from the match.

England dominated possession throughout the game but lacked the creative spark in midfield required to break through Ghana’s compact defensive setup.

Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, and Declan Rice combined for seven key passes, yet none managed to deliver a truly incisive ball that could split the Ghanaian defence.

Manager Thomas Tuchel’s choice to leave out Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton from the squad seemed to backfire, as his progressive passing could have been invaluable in dismantling the Black Stars’ low block.

On the flanks, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke found it difficult to beat their markers, limiting their attacking output. Both registered just two key passes each.

Bukayo Saka, who replaced Gordon, injected more energy into England’s attack. The Arsenal winger forced Ghana’s goalkeeper Benjamin Asare into his only significant save of the match.

Tuchel may now be tempted to start Saka alongside Marcus Rashford in England’s upcoming clash against Panama on Saturday.

In defence, Manchester City’s Marc Guehi stepped in for John Stones and fully justified his selection.

Although Ghana posed minimal attacking danger, Guehi’s composure in possession stood out. He completed 81 passes in the opposition half — more than any other player on the pitch — and also delivered three accurate long balls.

Defensively, Guehi remained dependable, losing just one duel (aerial or ground), while contributing four clearances and two recoveries.

Statistics courtesy of sofascore.com.