Thomas Tuchel’s England were brought crashing back down to earth at Boston Stadium as a resolute Ghana side held them to a goalless draw in Group L.
What followed after the 4-2 dismantling of Croatia was a stop-start, increasingly tense 90 minutes against a Carlos Queiroz side that defended with discipline and organisation from the first whistle — a farcical hydration break midway through the first half doing little to help England’s already laboured rhythm.
England had 78 per cent of possession and 18 shots but created precious little of genuine quality. In the closing stages, Saka forced a save, O’Reilly struck the crossbar with a header, and Kane blazed the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy. A point each, and both sides remain level on four points at the top of Group L ahead of the final matchday. England face Panama on 27 June.
Here is how the players rated on a night to forget in Foxborough.
England player ratings vs Ghana
Goalkeeper & Defence
Jordan Pickford – 6/10 Had virtually nothing to do in the first half beyond routine distribution. Got away with a clumsy challenge on Prince Adu in the second half that could easily have gone against him.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: GHANA WANT A RED CARD FOR PICKFORD!
BUT THE REFEREE SAYS: FREE KICK FOR ENGLAND! pic.twitter.com/lUezndeVES
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) June 23, 2026
Reece James – 5/10 Showed some early promise linking up with Madueke on the right, but his passing was cautious and slow for much of the game. One of his quieter evenings in an England shirt.
Ezri Konsa – 5/10 Looked more settled than he did against Croatia and was rarely tested defensively. However, a reckless lunge in the second half could easily have conceded a penalty — the kind of moment Tuchel will want eliminated.
Marc Guehi – 7/10 The pick of England’s defensive performers and now the clear first choice at centre-back. Composed throughout, had a late header cleared off the line, and visibly brought the best out of Konsa alongside him.
🚨 Marc Guehi record 143 touches vs Ghana, the most by anyone in a single game at the 2026 World Cup so far.
And…
He completed 126 passes vs Ghana, the most by anyone in a single game at the 2026 World Cup so far.
Main man Marc. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/Il8u7R347V
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 23, 2026
Djed Spence – 6/10 A competent display in a surprise left-back role. Won a key tackle on Marvin Senaya early in the second half and was solid defensively before making way just after the hour mark.
Midfield
Elliot Anderson – 6/10 Quietly effective throughout, shielding the back four and giving Rice the licence to push forward. His passing range was England’s most consistent outlet in a midfield that struggled to create.
Declan Rice – 7/10 England’s most energetic presence in the opening stages, driving forward with purpose and testing Ghana with a free-kick that flew just over the bar. An early booking curtailed his aggression and he became progressively less influential as the game wore on.
🏴 Declan Rice vs Ghana:
◎ 3 – Shots (🥈)
◎ 6 – Chances created (🥇)
◎ 3 – Accurate crosses (🥇)
◎ 2 – Successful dribbles (=🥇)
◎ 2 – Tackles (🥈)
◎ 7.50 – WhoScored rating (England's 🥇)No player created more chances (6), made more accurate crosses (3) or had more… pic.twitter.com/LJCmlsp6Qq
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) June 23, 2026
Jude Bellingham – 6/10 A far cry from his commanding display against Croatia, as Ghana’s defensive block denied him his usual space to operate throughout the first half. Made a crucial tackle on Semenyo early in the second half and ran 40 yards to overlap Gordon around the hour mark, but was ultimately unable to impose himself on the match.
Attack
Noni Madueke – 5/10 Showed some early promise down the right but made the wrong decision too often at the critical moment, turning back when a direct run was the better option. Replaced by Saka at half-time of the second half with England in need of a spark.
Anthony Gordon – 4/10 Pocketed by the impressive Marvin Senaya in the first half and offered little thereafter. Two underwhelming displays in a row, and with Rashford pushing for a start, his place in the XI looks increasingly uncertain.
Harry Kane – 5/10 Starved of service throughout and rarely involved in meaningful attacking moments. Had a first-half effort blocked by two Ghanaian defenders, and his late close-range miss — blazed over with the goal open — was the defining image of a frustrating night for England.
19 – Harry Kane had 19 touches against Ghana, the lowest total he has ever recorded in a major tournament match for England where he played 90+ minutes.
Isolated. pic.twitter.com/e3PYJDy0Ty
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 23, 2026
Substitutes
Bukayo Saka – 7/10 (on 65′ for Gordon) Made an immediate impact after coming on, bringing a directness and energy to England’s attack that had been sorely missing. His presence visibly lifted the tempo in the closing stages and made Ghana’s defensive task considerably more difficult.
Brilliant save by Benjamin Asare to stop Bukayo Saka. 🧤 🏴 0-0 🇬🇭
Watch England vs Ghana live on Channel One TV.#CitiSports #ChannelOneTV #CitiFM #BlackStars #Ghana #England #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZCdDcjLd8z
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) June 23, 2026
Nico O’Reilly – 7/10 (on 65′ for Spence) Offered far more attacking intent than Spence and went agonisingly close to a winner when his header cannoned back off the crossbar in the closing stages.
Eberechi Eze – 5/10 (on 74′ for Anderson) Gave possession away cheaply shortly after coming on, directly leading to Ghana’s most dangerous counter-attack of the evening.
Morgan Rogers – 6/10 (on 80′ for Bellingham) Showed some intelligent movement and a couple of sharp dribbles in his brief cameo — enough to suggest he deserves more minutes against Panama.
Marcus Rashford – N/A (on 84′ for Gordon) On too late to make a meaningful impact, but looked bright and purposeful immediately — fuelling the argument that he should have been introduced considerably earlier.
Read more – Tuchel stumped as England miss glorious chance to beat Ghana
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