FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – England and Ghana managers Carlos Queiroz have previously met at matches. world cupthe results are quite different.
This time, Queiroz’s team earned enough points to advance to the round of 32.
England had an overwhelming amount of possession on Tuesday, but they had several chances to score late in the rain-enforced 0-0 draw, but they came up short.
“Our plan was to block and frustrate them from the first moment,” Queiroz said. “We did it.”
Four years ago, Queiroz was managing Iran when they lost 6-2 to England at the World Cup in Qatar.
England, who have not lost to an African nation in nine World Cup matches, outscored Ghana 19-1 but failed to convert a number of chances in the closing stages.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham said: “I’m a little frustrated with the way they’re defending and the way they’re setting up.” “They played the game the way they wanted to play. Despite every corner kick, every possession, every shot from long range, we just couldn’t beat them.”
Both teams won their opening games in this tournament. Ghana beat Panama 1-0 and England beat Croatia 4-2. Both teams still have work to do in Group L before securing a spot in the knockout stages of the first 48-team World Cup.
England lost to France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament. Ghana has not advanced to the knockout stages since reaching the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
However, this year the tournament has been expanded and the third place team from the top eight will advance, giving both teams a good chance to play in the final group match.
England next face Panama on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ghana will play 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 collected the rebound but was unable to kick it with his left foot and shot high.
Ghana’s best chance came in the 78th minute, when Abdul Fatau beat England midfielder Ebelesi Eze to steal the ball and race up the sideline. He fed Prince Adu the ball, but before he could take the shot he was challenged from behind by Ezri Konsa. Adu wanted a penalty but didn’t get it.
“It was a clear penalty, if not a red card,” Queiroz said. “There’s no doubt about that.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel said he was a little surprised that Ghana were defending in a 4-5-1 formation. He described Ghana’s effort as one of the most physical he had seen in the tournament.
“They defended with great determination. They defended with discipline,” Tuchel said.
Tuchel added that he did not think England were too reliant on striker Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“He wasn’t involved as much as we would have liked, but it was very narrow,” Tuchel said. “It was difficult to find space. The little moments he had were really unfortunate.”
In the first half, England had 60% possession but made just five attempts on goal, with Kane missing in the box just before the end of the first half.
Ghana picked up the pace in the second half and had a chance in the 50th minute when Marvin Senaya received a touch inside the box, but his header was blocked by the English defense.
Ghanaian goalkeeper Benjamin Asare kept a clean sheet in his first World Cup start.
Ghanaian midfielder Kwasi Sibo said, “I think we did our best to get the best result we expected.” “This was the coach’s plan and we followed the coach.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
