The final whistle had barely sounded at Gillette Stadium when Jude Bellingham, named player of the match, delivered a verdict that cut through the formalities. “I didn’t deserve it, to be honest,” the England midfielder told FIFA’s in-house media after a 0–0 draw with Ghana in Group L. “It should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well.” The admission, echoed across British and Spanish-language outlets, framed an evening in which England’s attack stalled against a deep, compact block and a single point felt, for the favourites, like a regression.

Ghana, coached by Carlos Queiroz, set up in a 5-4-1 off the ball and rarely strayed from a shape that assistant coach Anthony Barry described at half-time as “deep, deep, deep – probably deeper than we expected.” England dominated possession but produced no shots on target in the first half, a tournament first. The clearest chance fell to Harry Kane in the closing minutes after substitute Nico O’Reilly struck the upright; the rebound sat up for the captain, who blazed over from close range. Ghana believed they should have had a late penalty when Prince Adu went down under Ezri Konsa’s challenge, but the referee waved play on.

Bellingham, substituted after 73 minutes, later expanded on the performance with a candour that British analysts noted as rare. He spoke of a “little bit of fear” in England’s forward movements, wary of Ghana’s counter-attacking speed, and called the experience of facing an African opponent “a good test” that differed from European fixtures. His reference to “second-game fever” – England have now drawn their second group-stage match at four consecutive major tournaments – was picked up by Ghanaian media as a sign of the defensive discipline that frustrated Thomas Tuchel’s side. Declan Rice urged calm, pointing out that other top nations had also drawn early matches, but the pattern was unmistakable.

England remain top of Group L on four points after their opening 4–2 win over Croatia, while Ghana’s point strengthens their bid to reach the knockout rounds. The group will be decided on the final matchday, when England face Panama and Ghana meet Croatia. For Tuchel’s team, the task is to ensure that a familiar second-game stumble does not become a larger complication.