Declan Rice insists England are keeping their heads up despite being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Ghana on Tuesday in Boston. The result leaves England's path to the round of 32 uncertain, as they missed the chance to confirm their place with a match to spare.
England Struggle to Break Down Ghana's Defence
After a promising 4-2 victory over Croatia in their World Cup opener, England looked laboured against a well-organised Ghana side. The Three Lions failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, with Ghana's deep defensive block stifling their attacking play. In the second half, England created several chances but could not find the net, with captain Harry Kane firing over from close range in stoppage time.
Reflecting on the match, Rice acknowledged the difficulty posed by Ghana's tactics. "It is always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball as deep as they were, but you have to find solutions," he said. "In the last 10 minutes, we were unlucky not to score."
Rice and Guehi Call for Positivity
Despite the setback, Rice emphasised that England would not dwell on the result. "We still have a great chance to top the group against Panama, so positivity all round," he added. "They were very compact, 5-4-1 off the ball and tight spaces to play through, but on the other hand we can do more with the ball. You have to give credit to Ghana. It's tough and they are good players so it was never going to be an easy game. We have one more group game to top the group so we have to be positive."
Centre-back Marc Guehi, who was recalled for the match alongside Tottenham's Djed Spence, echoed Rice's sentiments after a solid defensive display. "It's so important to put things into perspective," he told BBC Sport. "That's what life's about. On another day we win the game and everyone's buzzing. The main thing is the performance was good, we looked like a team that wanted to score, that had chances to score goals and it's important we learn from this game and build. You can see at the end of the game what it meant to them, so I think it's important to give credit to them."
Group Situation and Next Steps
England now face a must-win final group stage match against Panama on Saturday to secure top spot in the group. A victory would guarantee progression to the round of 32, while a draw or loss could see them eliminated depending on other results. Rice remains confident: "Loads of top nations draw the first game so there is no need to be negative or downbeat. We will stay positive."
