Dismal England serve up World Cup shocker to highlight old problem

England’s World Cup campaign lurched into crisis in Boston on Friday night, where a 0-0 draw with Ghana exposed the same tactical frailties that have dogged the Three Lions for years. The stalemate, a tedious and disjointed affair, offered no redemption for a side that had arrived in the United States with inflated expectations after dismantling Croatia in the opening match. Instead, it delivered a reality check: this England side remains fundamentally unconvincing when faced with disciplined opposition.

What happened in Boston

The match was a procession of missed opportunities and misplaced passes, a spectacle so devoid of incident that even the hydration breaks drew louder boos than cheers. England, who had been hailed as the most impressive team from the first round of fixtures, produced little to suggest they could progress beyond the group stage. Ghana, ranked 73rd in the world, absorbed pressure with composure and left Foxborough with four points—enough to secure their first knockout-stage berth since 2010.

The Three Lions’ inability to break down a side managed by Carlos Queiroz, a coach famed for pragmatic football, underscored their limitations. England’s attacks lacked rhythm, their creativity stifled by Ghana’s compact shape. When the rare chances arrived, they were squandered with uncharacteristic wastefulness. The frustration was palpable, not just among the travelling fans but within the camp itself. Manager Thomas Tuchel, who had spoken of enjoying one of the best weeks of his career just days earlier, now faces a dressing-room reckoning.

Why this matters now

This was not merely a poor performance; it was a strategic regression. England’s second group game has long been a graveyard for ambition. Fourteen years after Time Magazine labelled them the “world’s most disappointing team,” the Three Lions remain trapped in the same cycle of hype and underachievement. The draw with Ghana followed a familiar script: early promise, followed by stagnation, and ultimately, a point salvaged through sheer resilience rather than quality.

The result leaves England top of Group L on goal difference, but the manner of their performance has eroded any illusion of invincibility. The contrast with their opening 3-1 win over Croatia could not be starker. Where once there was fluidity and invention, now there is only caution and containment. Tuchel’s side, once praised for their attacking verve, now resemble a team unsure of their identity.

Ghana, by contrast, leave Boston with momentum. For a nation ranked 73rd in the world, four points is no small feat. Their disciplined approach exposed England’s inability to adapt, a flaw that could prove fatal in the knockout stages. If the Three Lions are to avoid an early exit, they will need to rediscover the ruthlessness that carried them past Croatia—and fast.

The tactical void

England’s problems are structural. Against Ghana, they lacked the midfield control that had been their hallmark in the first match. The absence of a single creative spark—whether through injury or selection—left them toothless in attack. Tuchel’s substitutions offered no remedy, and by the final whistle, the side resembled a team playing not to lose rather than to win.

Ghana, meanwhile, operated as a unit, absorbing pressure and launching quick counters when the opportunity arose. Their manager’s influence was clear: Queiroz’s teams are rarely pretty, but they are effective. England, for all their talent, remain a side in search of a coherent plan. The draw in Boston was not just a setback; it was a symptom of a deeper malaise.

England’s World Cup campaign now hangs by a thread. A third match against the United States looms, and a loss or even a draw could send them tumbling out of the tournament. The question is no longer whether they can win the World Cup, but whether they can survive the group stage. For a side that has promised so much and delivered so little, the next 90 minutes will define their tournament—and perhaps their manager’s future.