England's Ghana draw is a reality check after Croatia thrill

England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana was a sobering follow-up to their impressive opening win over Croatia. Thomas Tuchel’s side remain in a strong position in Group L, but this was a clear reminder that they still need more ideas and creativity to break down well-drilled opponents.

The contrast with their first match was stark. Against Croatia, England looked sharp, energetic and full of attacking intent. Ghana, however, sat deep, stayed organised and made the game incredibly difficult, forcing England into a frustrating evening with few clear openings.

Declan Rice insisted there was “no panic” in the camp, and England’s situation is still healthy. They can top the group by beating Panama in their final group match, so the path forward is still under their control. But there was no hiding the fact that England looked blunt for long stretches in the face of Ghana’s compact shape.

Tuchel admitted it is hard to find a way through when a team defends deep with a 4-5-1 and is content to fight for a draw. England had plenty of the ball, but possession alone was not enough. Their wide players and midfield runners had more success against Croatia than they did here, and the lack of a true X-factor was obvious.

Bukayo Saka gave England a late lift when he came on, and that may strengthen his case for more minutes from the start next time. Anthony Gordon was quiet again, while Harry Kane was well marked and largely starved of service. England’s midfield also lacked variety, raising questions about whether a different creative option might have helped.

There were late chances. Nico O’Reilly hit the woodwork and Marc Guehi had a header cleared off the line. England also had a few anxious moments at the other end as Ghana threatened on the counter and looked dangerous whenever they broke forward.

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz claimed his side could have had a penalty late on, which only added to the sense that this was a messy, unresolved contest. England were not poor enough to be in trouble, but they were not sharp enough to worry the tournament’s elite either.

The important thing for Tuchel’s team is that they still control their fate. The less comfortable truth is that they will need a better attacking performance if they want to make a serious statement against the stronger sides later in the tournament.