BOSTON — England had 70 percent possession, three shots on target, and absolutely nothing to show for it. Ghana’s defense held firm in a 0-0 draw at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, leaving the Three Lions frustrated and their star striker Harry Kane staring at the crossbar wondering how he didn’t score.
Kane’s miss in the 82nd minute was the kind that sticks with you. A rebound off the woodwork from Nico O’Reilly’s header fell right to his left foot. He had time. He had space. He sent the volley well over the goal. The kind of chance Kane buries nine times out of ten. This was the tenth.
Thomas Tuchel made two changes from the Croatia win, swapping John Stones and O’Reilly for Marc Guehi and Djed Spence. The idea was probably to deal with Ghana’s speed on the wings, specifically Antoine Semenyo. It didn’t really matter. Ghana’s backline was just too organized.
Ghana’s Game Plan Worked to Perfection
Ghana came into this match knowing a point would keep them alive in Group L. They played like it. Thomas Partey returned after missing the opener against Panama, and his presence in midfield gave the Black Stars exactly what they needed — someone to sit deep, break up play, and let the defense reset.
The first half was mostly England passing sideways. Declan Rice forced a couple of free kicks and sent one just over the bar. Noni Madueke had a moment or two. But there was nothing dangerous from open play. Ghana, meanwhile, nearly caught England sleeping early when Iñaki Williams tried to break in behind but was flagged offside.
Jordan Pickford had a weird moment in the second half when he charged off his line and won a dubious free kick after contact with Prince Adu. Fans online weren’t buying it. But Pickford got the call, and that was that.
England Threw Everything at Them
Tuchel emptied the bench. Bukayo Saka came on. Morgan Rogers. Eberechi Eze. Marcus Rashford. It didn’t matter. Ghana’s goalkeeper Benjamin Asare had maybe three saves to make all game, and none of them were particularly difficult until he denied Saka’s curling effort late on.
The best look came after that save, with O’Reilly hitting the bar and Kane skying the rebound. England fans in the stadium just put their hands on their heads. How do you not score from there?
Rice picked up a knock in the 88th minute stopping a Ghana attack and looked worried for a second. He ran it off, but that’s something to monitor ahead of the final group match against Panama. England still tops the group on goal difference, regardless of what happens between Croatia and Panama. So the draw isn’t a disaster. It just feels like one.
Six minutes of stoppage time gave England one last push. A corner came and went. Another corner got cleared off the line by a Ghana defender. Then the whistle blew. The Black Stars celebrated like a win. England walked off the field looking like a team that knew they’d left points on the table.
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