England's 0-0 draw with Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Tuesday marked the fourth consecutive tournament in which the Three Lions have followed victory in their opening game with a stodgy draw in their second. The 1982 World Cup remains the only tournament where they have won all three group games, a fact Thomas Tuchel acknowledged with a wry quip: "Tradition."
Reality Check or Cause for Concern?
Despite the dropped points, England remain top of Group L and will finish first if they beat Panama on Saturday. Panama, already eliminated after two defeats, were trounced 6-1 by England in their only previous meeting at Russia 2018. Tuchel and his squad seem largely untroubled by the loss of momentum, with Jude Bellingham summarising the mood: "No worries, no stress, no drama, stay positive."
Assistant coach Anthony Barry noted in his half-time interview that Ghana "defend deep, deep, deep, probably deeper than we expected," a sentiment Tuchel echoed. However, publicly remarking on Ghana's defensive structure does not solve the problem, and Tuchel's complaint about the length of the grass raised eyebrows.
Tactical Issues to Address
Among the tactical problems confronting England is a fault shared by both left-backs, Djed Spence and Nico O'Reilly. Both players get caught out of position when opponents run at England. While Bellingham never passed to Harry Kane in the Croatia game, the team's incision and risk-taking compensated. Against Ghana, those gaps were plugged.
England must prove against Panama and beyond that they can score without penalties or corners, and when opponents prevent them from cutting through midfield. The coaching staff were stunned by how deep Ghana defended, but Panama will likely adopt a similar approach.
Rotation and Selection Decisions
Tuchel is still deciding whether to rotate his team fully for the third group game. He is understood to favour freshening things up, but "more moderated" now than if already through as group winners. Marcus Rashford, John Stones, and Kobbie Mainoo will fancy their chances, while Bukayo Saka impressed off the bench and is pushing for a first start.
Efficiency on the wings is crucial, as demonstrated in the second half against Croatia. Declan Rice called that performance "the benchmark for us" and was right that England in that mood can beat anyone. The midfield trio of Rice, Bellingham, and Elliot Anderson is functioning well, and Tuchel may tinker but should heed Herbert von Karajan's advice: "don't disturb the music."
Playing to Strengths
Too many England teams of the past have sought to conceal weaknesses rather than play to strengths. Tuchel amused when he admitted his mind wandering during the Croatia game, picturing fans in pubs enjoying the full-throttle football. Both head coach and public share one thing in common: they know England's strength is the attack. Their firepower in the final third is the battery that will power them through this World Cup. Time to recharge, plug, and play.
