Ghana draw cools England hype and revives familiar questions

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 24 : Thomas Tuchel's England were riding a wave of optimism at the World Cup after their opening 4-2 demolition of Croatia, but Tuesday's 0-0 draw against Ghana served as a reminder that progress at major tournaments is not always straightforward.

The victory over Croatia had showcased England at their best, with fluid attacking football, goals and a sense that Tuchel's methods were taking hold. 

Against Ghana, however, they encountered an entirely different challenge. Carlos Queiroz's side defended deep, remained organised and physical, and frustrated England for much of the night as they emerged with a valuable point.

England remain top of Group L and are still firmly on course for the knockout stages, but the stalemate raised fresh questions about whether Tuchel's side possess the creativity and variety required to break down stubborn opponents. 

Ghana appeared content to sit back and absorb pressure, surrendering possession but denying England space in dangerous areas.

"It is difficult to find a way through when someone plays a 4-5-1 and completely deep and is committed to it," Tuchel said afterwards. "They celebrated a 0-0 like a win. You cannot lose your head about it."

For all of England's dominance on the ball, the Three Lions struggled to create clear chances. Harry Kane, who scored twice in the opening victory over Croatia, was largely isolated and tightly marked. 

His frustration was summed up in stoppage time when he blazed his shot over the bar from six yards after Nico O'Reilly's header had struck the crossbar.

The performance also reignited debate about England's attacking options. Anthony Gordon again struggled before being replaced by Bukayo Saka, whose introduction injected some