06/24/26 02:19:00
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06/24 02:15 CDT England and Ghana play to 0-0 draw at World Cup despite
flurry-filled final minutes
England and Ghana play to 0-0 draw at World Cup despite flurry-filled final
minutes
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) --- England and Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz have met
before at the World Cup, with the result being quite a bit different.
This time, Queiroz's team earned a point that could end up being enough for a
spot in the round of 32.
England dominated possession on Tuesday but came up empty on several late
scoring opportunities in a rain-filled 0-0 draw.
"Our plan was to block and frustrate them from the first minute," Queiroz said.
"We did it."
Four years ago at the World Cup in Qatar, Queiroz was coaching Iran when his
team faced England and lost 6-2.
England, which has not lost to an African country at the World Cup in nine
meetings, outshot Ghana 19-1 but failed capitalize on multiple chances in the
closing minutes.
"Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up," England
midfielder Jude Bellingham said. "They got exactly out of the game what they
played for. Couldn't quite break them down, even with all corners, all the
possession, all the shots on goal from distance."
Both teams won their opening matches at this year's tournament, with Ghana
beating Panama 1-0 and England defeating Croatia 4-2. Now both still have work
to do in Group L before securing a spot in the knockout round at the first
48-team World Cup.
England ended up losing to France in the quarterfinals at the 2022 tournament.
Ghana hasn't made it to the knockout round since reaching the quarterfinals at
the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
But with the expanded tournament this year, the best eight third-place teams
will advance, giving both teams a good chance heading into their final group
matches.
England will next play Panama on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ghana
will take on Panama at the same time in Philadelphia.
The Three Lions had a chance to take the lead in the 86th minute when Nico
O'Reilly's header hit the crossbar. Harry Kane gathered the rebound but
couldn't get enough on it with his left foot and shot high.
Ghana's best chance came in the 78th when Abdul Fatawu outfought England
midfielder Eberechi Eze for the ball and raced down the sideline. He fed the
ball to Prince Adu, but he was challenged from behind by Ezri Konsa before he
could get off a shot. Adu wanted a penalty but didn't get it.
"It was a clear penalty, if not a red card," Queiroz said. "We have no doubts
about that."
England coach Thomas Tuchel said they were a bit surprised with how Ghana was
aligned, defending in a 4-5-1 formation. He called Ghana's efforts one of the
most physical that he's seen in the tournament.
"They defended with a lot of determination. A lot of discipline," Tuchel said.
Tuchel added he doesn't believe England was too dependent on Kane, the striker
who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"He was not involved as much as we would like to, but it was so narrow," Tuchel
said. "It was difficult to find space. The little moments that he had were just
so unlucky."
In the first half, England had 60% of the possession but only five attempts on
goal, with Kane missing inside the box just before the end of the half.
Ghana picked up the pace in the second half, getting a chance in the 50th when
Marvin Senaya got a touch in the box, but couldn't quite get much behind a
header as it was blocked by the England defense.
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare earned a clean sheet in his first World Cup
start.
"I think we did our best to get the best possible result that we were hoping
for," Ghana midfielder Kwasi Sibo said. "It's just the plan of the coach and we
did follow the coach."
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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