The draw that Ghana forced against England confirmed that Carlos Queiroz, coach of the Black Stars, is one of the most seasoned managers in the world when it comes to organising a tight defensive structure — even against an attacking powerhouse of the Three Lions' calibre.
Queiroz succeeded in limiting the danger and potency of England's attack, holding firm against Harry Kane and his teammates, and came away with a precious point that brings him considerably closer to reaching the round of 32 — and perhaps even causing a surprise in the group by seizing top spot.
It was clear from the opening minutes that Ghana had no intention of playing an open game. Queiroz relied on defensive compactness, positioning his players tightly in deep areas, closing off space effectively, and forcing England to circulate the ball away from dangerous zones.
Despite England's total possession dominance, that dominance lacked effectiveness, as most of the passing came up against a well-organised defensive block. Queiroz read England's strengths accurately, and Tuchel's own changes to the lineup inadvertently aided him by reducing England's threat. Ghana played with defensive discipline, dealt successfully with aerial balls, and cleared danger before it could reach Harry Kane in particular.
The draw represented a frustration and disappointment for England, especially as their attacking play was slow, marked by an absence of intelligent movement between the lines and a lack of surprise in the final third.
Tuchel was also late with his second-half substitutions, which did increase England's attacking activity — though not sufficiently — in contrast to the first half, which was devoid of attempts and saw not a single shot on goal.
England failed to find attacking solutions and appeared unable to crack the Ghanaian defensive code. England's problem lay in relying on a conventional, easily-read attacking approach: ball circulation and penetration down the flanks was not enough to break the defensive block, particularly given the lack of speed in switching play from side to side.
Ghana deserved praise not only for the organisation of their defensive line, but also for the collective effort that began with the forwards and ended with goalkeeper Benjamin Asari, who gave his side confidence and composure every time England managed to reach shooting positions.
Although the final minutes saw intense pressure from England, Ghana's players fought valiantly to defend their goal in a match that ranks among the least impressive technically, while at the same time offering a model of how defensive organisation and tactical discipline can succeed.
The result leaves England needing a win against Panama in the third and final round of group-stage fixtures in order to compete for top spot in the group and ease their path in the next round by avoiding a potential clash with one of the stronger sides.