Thomas Tuchel has rejected any suggestions he was frustrated with England’s 0-0 draw against Ghana and warned a similarly tough assignment is to come against Panama.
England started the World Cup with a superb 4-2 triumph over Croatia last Wednesday in Texas, but were brought back down to earth in Boston by a dogged Ghana outfit on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT).
The Black Stars defended impressively and England were only able to create a flurry of chances late on as Nico O’Reilly headed against the crossbar and Harry Kane blazed over from close range.
“No, not frustrated. I saw it coming. I knew it would be a difficult game. I hardly saw a team defend so physical and so committed like Ghana did, so give credit to them,” Tuchel told BBC Sport.
“It was difficult to break them down, we needed to be patient, to be precise, to commit and be brave, but you can never for one second open spaces for counter-attacks.
“We had enough shots, we had enough crosses, we had enough set-pieces to score the first goal, we had a chance with Harry and it is what it is.”
Thomas Tuchel will come under more pressure after his England side couldn’t beat Ghana | Photo: AP
Kane only had three touches in the opposition box and struggled to get free from the shackles of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who was deployed in a man-marking role.
The dour first half began with widespread boos for Partey, who is scheduled to stand trial next year on seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault that he denies.
The 57th minute brought the game’s first shot on target, with Noni Madueke’s blocked strike followed by an Anthony Gordon effort, but England continued to struggle.
Tuchel replaced Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze in a bid to change the course of the game, which Ghana hoped would swing their way in the 79th minute. A quick counter ended with Ezri Konsa clumsily denying Prince Kwabena Adu, who hit it onto teammate Antoine Semenyo in an offside position as England survived.
“It was very frustrating, like second game fever, the same as always with us,” Bellingham, the Real Madrid star and man of the match, said.
Harry Kane blazed over as fancied England failed to fire against Ghana | Photo: AP
Not even England’s set-piece prowess could swing a late goal, although substitute O’Reilly and Kane went close.
Both sides looks all but assured of a place in the round of 32 after this stalemate as Tuchel’s men turn their attention to Saturday’s group finale against Panama in New Jersey.
“Probably the last 15 minutes of both halves we were at our best and had some chances, I had a good chance and hit the bar with Nico (O’Reilly) as well,” Kane told the BBC.
“I’d back myself to score that more often than not, but it is what it is and I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in, so I have to accept it.”
