The pattern of this second match in England's group was laid out for all to see in the first few minutes, with England dominating possession and Ghana trying to use their pace on the counter to create chances. The game began with England passing the ball around for fully three minutes, but it all came to nothing as regards a goal chance. On five minutes Ghana made their first breakaway but Athuer Williams was offside.

A long ball then found Anthony Gordon, but he was caught in possession by the quick tackling Ghana defenders and the move broke down. Gordon's habit of cutting back inside was a little annoying as he has the pace to go round the outside of defenders. On ten minutes Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were both crowded out of promising positions, and after Noni Madueke almost creates a chance for Bellingham, Gordon is fouled on the edge of the box only for Rice to shoot over the bar.

Harry Kane is floored by a clash of heads, Elliot Anderson is working his socks off to intercept and link the defence with the attack as England probe, and then Jordan Ayew and Reece James also have a nasty clash of heads which holds up the proceedings. England did win several corners but for most of the game our crosses were not clearing the first defender, which was very frustrating. Surely someone should have spotted that weakness and put someone in front of the said first defender?

As we reached the first drinks break, England had dominated possession tried hard to use the wings with long passes out wide but the final third had not seen a clever enough pass to elude the strong Ghana defenders. They were holding their rigid defensive mode very effectively and from experience we all knew that it would take a moment of magic to break it down. This referee picked up on several niggly fouls, fouls that in the other games I have watched were being ignored. On 37 minutes Madueke produced a better and deeper cross but Rice could only direct his header over the top. The Arsenal man then received a yellow card for a late tackle and there were signs of frustration in the England ranks.

The player the England fans feared, Antoine Semenyo, had not been seen much during the half, but late on he went on one of his trademark dangerous runs which was eventually snuffed out at the expense of a corner. There were six minutes added on and Marc Guehi, who was playing well, found Kane with a good pass, but his shot was blocked for a corner, which was cleared by the first defender… again! Not an inspiring half by any means as goal chances were few and far between, but the hard work of the England players, notably Anderson and Guehi did not go unnoticed.

After the break England struggled to get going again and Ghana had a spell of possession and Marvin Sanaya had a half-chance which was thwarted by the England defenders. Jordan Pickford, who we had seen little of, was fouled in one raid and England still couldn't quite get it together, and quite frankly it was a poor start to the half from them. But this nearly changed with two chances close together. It came in the 57th minute when first Madueke saw a shot kept out by the goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, and the keeper immediately saved again, this time from Gordon. That was the closest so far to a breakthrough and it led to a spell of pressure from England.

A free-kick from Rice saw Anderson meet the ball with his head, but that went for a corner, and from that Anderson's second header this time flew over the bar. On 64 minutes Madueke had a chance from another Rice free-kick, but his shot went wide. Thomas Tuchel then brought on two substitutes replacing the disappointing Gordon with Bukayo Saka, and taking off Djed Spence for Nico O'Reilly. Five minutes later Kane's low shot was easily saved, and then a good cross by Madueke was headed over by Saka. England's heading had been poor in this game and Tuchel then brought on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers for Bellingham and Anderson, who in my opinion had been man-of-the-match up to this point.

On 79 minutes Ezri Konsa could consider himself a little lucky as a break by substitute Prince Adu looked ominous and as Pickford and Konsa challenged the player went down and the ball was cleared. Replays showed that Konsa was out of control with his airborne tackle. But there you go, it was a change to see something go England's way in a big tournament, as it doesn't often happen.

Three minutes later Saka is fouled and yet another free-kick was sent into the box only for the header to be won yet again by the dominant defenders. Marcus Rashford then replaced Madueke and then Saka cut inside for one of his typical bursts and only a fine save by Asare prevented a goal. Shortly after that, with England upping their game at last, a cross came in, O'Reilly headed goalwards but the ball agonisingly struck the bar. The rebound fell kindly for Kane, and you would have staked your house on him scoring but his volley flew over the bar. The game had certainly livened up in those last few minutes, especially after Saka and Rashford had joined the fray. A header by Guehi was headed away off the line and that was it.

The draw it is not the end of the world, and all credit to Ghana who played very much to their strengths whilst their organisation was top notch. As for England, we move on to the Panama game and one hopes that in that match we will be a little more adventurous and brave with our final passes.

For this match the summing up reads Ghana's defending beat England's attacking.
  

Source Notes