Michael Owen has defended the England camp after their World Cup goalless draw with Ghana, urging perspective and dismissing external negativity. The former striker believes the team remains in a strong position despite the setback.
England's World Cup Progress
England played out a frustrating 0-0 draw against Group L opponents Ghana, tempering momentum from their opening 4-2 victory over Croatia. Despite the result, Thomas Tuchel's side still lead the group and are favorites to progress to the knockout rounds, with a match against Panama remaining.
Frustration was evident after the stalemate, with Jude Bellingham publicly dismissing his man of the match award, and external concerns raised about England's ability to break down a low block. However, Owen insists the camp remains positive.
Owen's Perspective on the Camp
“Inside the camp, I suspect there was a lot more positivity than there has been on the outside,” Owen told Mail Online. “We're not here yet, far from it, but a dressing room starts telling itself that outsiders don't understand, that it's them against the world. You develop a siege mentality. For now, though, I don't think that's necessary.”
Owen emphasized that players are aware of their strengths: “Trust me, the players will not be sitting in their hotel rooms thinking, 'Oh, I'm the worst player and we're the worst team.' They'll be reminding themselves they scored four goals in their previous game. They'll be reminding themselves they have world-class attackers. They'll be reminding themselves they already have four points from two matches. And so they should.”
Call for Calm
Owen urged fans and pundits to temper their reactions: “We all need to calm down a little when it comes to the reaction to England's goalless draw with Ghana. I've been there, I've lived it, and one game this early in the World Cup changes nothing. I woke up to a lot of negativity on Wednesday, but I really think we need a bit of perspective here. Was it a brilliant performance? No. Was it disappointing? Of course. But some of the fallout would have you believe England's challenge has fallen apart overnight. Having played in three World Cups, I can tell you that tournaments simply don't work like that.”
Eze Echoes Sentiment
Eberechi Eze, the Arsenal midfielder, echoed Owen's views, revealing a measured approach within the camp. “It’s a long journey,” Eze said. “You can’t be too high, you can’t be too low. You’ve got to trust in what you’re doing in the present moment. We’re trying to do that, we’re trying to enjoy it as much as we can, and being confident of what’s to come. I’m trusting that what we’ve been doing, how we’ve been playing will put us in a good position to win the group, and as long as we hold onto that, that’s the main thing.”
