BY Issah Olegor
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has praised Ghana’s disciplined defensive display after the Black Stars frustrated the Three Lions in a hard-fought 0-0 draw during their crucial Group L encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The stalemate at Boston Stadium left both nations level on four points at the top of the group and ensured the race for qualification to the Round of 32 will go down to the final round of matches.
Heading into the fixture, England were widely regarded as favourites following their impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in their tournament opener, while Ghana were full of confidence after Caleb Yirenkyi’s dramatic stoppage-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Panama.
With both teams aiming to take control of Group L, England dominated possession for much of the contest but found themselves repeatedly frustrated by a well-organised Ghanaian side that executed Carlos Queiroz’s tactical plan almost to perfection.
The Black Stars adopted a compact defensive shape, limiting England’s space in dangerous areas and forcing Thomas Tuchel’s side to circulate possession without creating enough clear-cut opportunities.
Despite controlling 79 per cent of possession—the highest recorded by a team that failed to score in a FIFA World Cup match in more than six decades—England were unable to find a breakthrough against Ghana’s resilient backline.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was once again among the standout performers, producing several important saves to deny England’s attacking stars, while the defensive unit remained composed under sustained pressure throughout the 90 minutes.
Although England enjoyed territorial dominance, Ghana remained dangerous whenever opportunities arose to counterattack through Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew and their supporting attackers.
Following the final whistle, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford admitted that Ghana deserved credit for making life extremely difficult for the Three Lions.
“They played a good game, but we have got to be happy. We’re still top of the group, now focus on Panama and top the group. Ghana have players like Semenyo, so you have to be ready to be called upon, and that’s what I felt I did,” the Everton goalkeeper told the BBC.
Pickford acknowledged that England had hoped to claim all three points but insisted the draw leaves qualification firmly within their control.
“We would’ve loved to win the game, but we have not lost. It’s tournament football, and still in our hands to top the group. You play different teams every game, and we just needed that goal; it’s as simple as that. We limited them to so few chances.” “We never managed to get that goal, but that’s football,” he added.
