England's best-rated starters in the 0-0 with Ghana were Marc Guéhi and Reece James, which tells its own story about the game. In England vs Ghana, the cleaner performances came from the back line, not from the attackers. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both finished well below those marks on a night when England never found much rhythm in the final third.

Thomas Tuchel's side were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana on Tuesday in Boston. They failed to produce a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, and even the best late chance ended with Kane blazing over after Nico O'Reilly had headed against the crossbar.

The ratings split says plenty about England's night

Guéhi's 7.35 was England's strongest defensive rating, and James followed at 7.27 with 2 key passes. For a team that spent long stretches trying to break down a low block, it was James rather than the forwards who supplied the most obvious attacking thrust.

That left the bigger names in less flattering territory. Kane's rating of 6.34 reflected a frustrating game in front of goal, with 1 shot on target from 3 attempts. Bellingham was only slightly higher at 6.49, contributing 1 key pass before he was withdrawn after 73 minutes.

England were not short of players who kept things tidy. But tidy was the problem. Guéhi and James looking like the standout starters is a fair summary of a game where England defended well enough and created too little.

Midfield work and the attack's lack of edge

The midfield picture is a little more interesting. Elliot Anderson drew strong praise from Express Sport, which described him as: "Once again the beating heart of England's midfield. Was the one cleaning up whenever Ghana broke forward and had been playing forward passes at every opportunity."

There is a decent case for him as the standout midfielder, though Declan Rice also put up useful numbers with a 7.13 rating, 6 key passes and 2 tackles despite a yellow card. England's better moments tended to come from players moving the ball into dangerous spaces rather than from sharp movement around the box.

That is why the front line comes back under scrutiny. Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and the rest of the supporting cast never turned England's possession into sustained pressure, while Kane's late miss became the clearest image of the night. Saka managed 2 shot attempts after coming on, but even the bench impact stayed limited.

Tuchel's verdict, carried by goal.com, was blunt enough: "His side lacked the intensity needed to break down Ghana's low block, while he potentially could have been even more proactive with his substitutions. Plenty to figure out for the German going forward."

Pickford flashpoint and the wider concern

There was one moment that split opinion more than the ratings. Jordan Pickford's challenge was described by one outlet as potentially red-card worthy, while goal.com did not go that far. The disagreement is real, but it should not distract from the bigger issue. England's main problem was not the refereeing debate. It was that they spent an entire first half without a shot on target.

A few players did their jobs well enough. Ezri Konsa, Guéhi and James gave England a stable base, and Djed Spence was part of a side that never looked especially open. But this was still a reality check for Tuchel because the attacking side of the team looked blunt against a deep defence.

England next face Panama on 27 June at 21:00 UTC, and the first question after Boston is obvious: who actually deserves to keep their place after this one.

FAQ

Who were England's best players in the draw with Ghana?

Marc Guéhi and Reece James came out best among England's starters in the 0-0 draw with Ghana. Guéhi posted a 7.35 rating, the strongest defensive mark in the side, while James recorded a 7.27 rating and produced 2 key passes from full-back.

Why did Harry Kane get a low rating against Ghana?

Kane's night was shaped by a lack of cutting edge. He finished with a 6.34 rating and managed 1 shot on target from 3 attempts. His biggest moment came late, when Nico O'Reilly hit the crossbar and Kane then blazed the rebound over the top.

Did England create enough chances against Ghana?

Not really. England failed to produce a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, which set the tone for a flat attacking display. They threatened a bit more late on, but the clearest opening still ended with Kane missing after O'Reilly's header hit the bar.

Was Elliot Anderson or Declan Rice England's best midfielder vs Ghana?

There is support for both, but Anderson had the stronger case on the night because the clearest praise focused on his all-round midfield work. Rice still rated well at 7.13 and supplied 6 key passes with 2 tackles, so it was not a one-man midfield display.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 11 outlets. How we work →