England had been held to a irritating 0-0 draw with Ghana following a tepid and lacklustre efficiency from Thomas Tuchel’s squad all through.
The Three Lions struggled to interrupt down the low block of Ghana and had been compelled to attend till the 57th minute earlier than registering their first shot on track.
Tuchel looked for a response after making 5 substitutes – with one in every of them within the type of Nico O’Reilly coming closest when his header hit the bar – however had been finally compelled to accept some extent on a night the place they appeared off the tempo in Boston.
Right here, Sky Sports activities charges all 16 gamers following the disappointing efficiency…
Jordan Pickford – 5
A bystander for many of the fixture and was not compelled into making a save however was very, very fortunate to get away with a rash problem on the sting of his field, which may have swayed a good fixture in Ghana’s favour.
Pickford raced out of his space and collided with Prince Adu when the Ghana ahead raced via on purpose. Fortunately for him and England, the referee sided with the goalkeeper.
His efficiency got here beneath scrutiny in opposition to Croatia and regardless of solely being concerned in flashes, his decision-making in that second must also be questioned.
Reece James – 5
Began the sport with early promise after combining nicely with Noni Madueke down the correct however that affect shortly light as England’s struggles grew to become extra distinguished.
Tuchel opted to maintain James on and take Spence off within the second half, which means the Chelsea defender has now performed two full video games forward of the third recreation. Doubts may very well be raised about him taking part in each minute of all three group stage video games.
Ezri Konsa – 4
One other participant who was very, very fortunate to flee a probably result-defining resolution within the recreation. Konsa was clumsy in his problem on Prince Adu when the ahead raced into the penalty space, bundling him to the bottom from behind, however was saved by a complicated offside flag, drawing play to an finish.
VAR didn’t seem to test the incident and Konsa’s blushes had been spared.
Marc Guehi – 5
Centre again pairings had been on the coronary heart of the dialogue however this recreation will go away supporters, and presumably Tuchel, questioning if John Stones was the correct name in any case.
Guehi had extra touches than some other participant (143) however would not possess the identical qualities as Stones in serving to to interrupt groups down.
His header that was cleared off the road would have eased the discussions post-match however count on the centre again dialog to be on the forefront of everybody’s pondering forward of Panama as soon as once more.
Djed Spence – 5
A shock inclusion from Tuchel and it was an experiment that didn’t repay. Spence, who’s a pure right-back however can play on the left, tended to float infield and encroach on the house of gamers akin to Declan Rice, hindering England’s momentum and contributing to a disjointed efficiency.
Not having a left-footer at left again brings acquainted issues for England, after taking part in Ashley Younger and Kieran Trippier within the function throughout years passed by. England missed the overlapping runs of O’Reilly and the risk he possesses within the field, too.
Elliot Anderson – 5
Anderson is an all-action midfielder however England wanted extra from him on this fixture. He was clumsy in his defensive work at instances and wanted to be braver together with his passing to progress the workforce ahead.
He had 91 touches of the ball, finishing 89 per cent of his 74 passes, however extra of them wanted to be directed at Harry Kane, who solely obtained on the ball 19 instances.
Declan Rice – 5
Rice was one other participant falling in need of his standard requirements on this recreation.
England’s set-piece prowess was clear to see in opposition to Croatia; it was an important avenue wanted to revive their lead with Harry Kane’s header on that night. Rice’s supply in Boston was in need of his earlier requirements and in a recreation the place England created as little as they did, probabilities from these conditions had been essential.
Elliot Anderson in motion for England vs Ghana on the 2026 World Cup
Noni Madueke – 6
Madueke linked up nicely with James down the correct within the early phases of the sport however his affect shortly fizzled out as time went on.
The Arsenal winger was at all times a stopgap inclusion whereas Bukayo Saka obtained to full health however video games like this one spotlight simply how a lot they want him again on the correct wing.
Madueke would finally swap to the left wing when Saka was launched and appeared extra snug when crossing on his stronger foot. A superb likelihood for the opener got here when the 2 mixed in that method, however Saka didn’t maintain his header down.
Jude Bellingham – 7
Like a lot of the England workforce, Bellingham didn’t have his standard affect on proceedings however tried desperately to step up when wanted and spark his workforce into life.
The Actual Madrid man, who fired England forward in opposition to Croatia to information them to victory, was ushered away from the ball at each given alternative and noticed his solely likelihood on purpose smothered by a logjam of defenders when the house opened up.
His well-timed sliding problem on Antoine Semenyo, as the one defender again to cope with the counter, raised the amount from the England followers when it was duly wanted. It wasn’t his day however the effort ranges had been there.
Djed Spence and Jude Bellingham excessive 5 one another throughout a substition in England’s 2026 World Cup match in opposition to Croatia
Anthony Gordon – 4
Given the nod forward of Marcus Rashford, who had a lingering hamstring concern, however squandered one other likelihood to impress within the beginning line-up.
The newly-signed Barcelona ahead struggled to get the beating of Ghana right-back Marvin Senaya and even failed to trace the defender in his personal field, as he threatened to offer his aspect the lead.
Gordon lastly obtained into the sport and recorded England’s first shot on track within the 57th minute however was withdrawn shortly after. England want much more from their large gamers and Gordon has didn’t impress on two events now.
If Rashford is match, he wants to begin in opposition to Panama.
Harry Kane – 4
A bystander for a lot of the fixture and may have gained it for England with lower than 5 minutes to go within the recreation. After Nico O’Reilly’s header cannoned off the bar, the ball fell into the trail of Kane from point-blank vary.
In standard circumstances and contemplating his efficiency in opposition to Croatia, there isn’t a different participant you need in that situation. Nevertheless, Kane, like a lot of the England workforce, was off the tempo on this recreation. His shot ballooned over the bar.
An uncharacteristic miss on an uncharacteristic night for the striker.
England had been denied a victory of their second group recreation for the fourth successive match by a dogged Ghana aspect
Substitutes
Nico O’Reilly – 7
A shock exclusion within the beginning line-up after being changed by Spence however very practically had the proper introduction after climbing off the bench within the second half.
The left-back possesses a uncommon risk from that place together with his runs into the field and noticed his header crash off the bar, after coming shut on two events in opposition to Croatia, nevertheless it wasn’t to be.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Substituted on within the second half and nearly had a direct influence after latching onto Madueke’s cross however could not maintain the header down.
Saka posed a risk that England lacked all through the sport and highlighted simply how essential he’s for his or her probabilities to go all the best way this summer time.
After his header ballooned over the bar, he reduce in on his favoured left foot and compelled Benjamin Asare into one in every of simply three saves on the night time.
Tuchel stated the Panama recreation is the fixture we may see Saka begin in and after a efficiency like this from the Three Lions, it’s desperately wanted.
Morgan Rogers – 5
Rogers was introduced on to switch Bellingham as England frantically looked for an avenue to interrupt the impasse however didn’t seize his likelihood to impress within the function.
He had simply 9 touches of the ball in 17 minutes and didn’t dwell as much as the ‘finisher’ tag that Tuchel had spoken about within the build-up to this match.
Eberechi Eze – 4
Eze’s introduction got here to be as England appeared for an elevated attacking risk nevertheless it nearly had the other impact when he was shrugged off the ball by Issahaku Fatawu, resulting in a Ghana counterattack.
Adu then raced into the field and as beforehand famous, was introduced down by Konsa earlier than he may shoot. Eze’s error in possession could be mentioned in additional depth had that scenario resulted in a penalty for Ghana, which it doubtless ought to have, however he escapes the limelight.
What shall be equally as worrying for Tuchel is the shortage of influence that gamers like Eze and Rogers had after being launched, with the tepid show persevering with regardless of a change in personnel.
Marcus Rashford – 6
Rashford was substituted on within the 83rd minute and had little time to make the identical influence that he had in opposition to Croatia.
He picked up a slight hamstring concern after the primary recreation and his restricted function on this draw more than likely signifies he was not absolutely match.
Nevertheless, this was a recreation the place England wanted his tempo, risk and prowess within the remaining third. It was a recreation that lacked high quality and Rashford affords that in abundance each time he takes to the sector.
