England's World Cup Week review: Ghana draw a reality check but no reason to panic

[p]In Flashscore's second review of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]'s World Cup week, we look at what was said before and after the goalless draw against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] and what Thomas Tuchel can learn from his side's first setback of the tournament.[/p][h2]What was said before the Ghana game?[/h2][p]Before the game, confidence was understandably high and there was an expectation to beat Ghana. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] went even further to say that, [b]"We believe that if we can do that from the opening minute, with the players that we also have to come on and finish the game, we can beat any opponent in the world.[/b][/p][p]"We want to be confident in our abilities and what we can do on the pitch."[/p][p]Rice's message is consistent with the confidence that players and coaches have shown from day one (whilst not coming across as arrogant). They don't simply expect to win this World Cup, but they believe that if they follow Tuchel's instructions, play as a team on and off the ball and believe in their attacking quality, they can beat anyone. [/p][p]The focus from Tuchel's pre-match press conference was less on England's World Cup hopes and more about his thoughts on hydration breaks. [/p][p][b]"I think that it (hydration break) ⁠interrupts and changes ‌the identity of the football match, much more than I thought,"[/b] ​Tuchel said. [/p][p]"So ​I had, of course, hydration breaks before, when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were ⁠shorter and they ​were just in a few matches. So now it breaks the match almost in four quarters, and I think it changes the characteristic of the match more than ‌I thought."[/p][p]The learnings from a group where England were always going to progress from will be very useful to Tuchel as he prepares his side for the fast-approaching knockouts, and one of the more surprising lessons has been how much hydration breaks do kill momentum.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][h2]England brought back down to earth [/h2][p]Thomas Tuchel was delighted by England's second-half response against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] after giving his team a talking to at half-time. In training over the next couple of days, he will be demanding that his side respond again on Saturday after a disappointing performance and an uninspiring [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/ghana-nNBjHale/?mid=KhgvzGjJ"]goalless draw[/a] against Ghana in their second group game.[/p][p]In some ways, it was a positive performance that put a pause on the conversation over England's defensive issues and was another example of how well-drilled and energetic Tuchel's England are in the press.[/p][p]Whenever England lost the ball, they swarmed Ghana, either winning it back quickly or forcing Ghana to play it long and hope for the best. That helped England to dominate the ball and end the game with 79% possession.[/p][p]The only problem was that when they did win the ball back, the tempo was tepid, negative and lacking any imagination.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="32e5bb8b-148c-4025-adce-e85609837a6d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e5809e80-4ea4-417d-bcb2-a3b02ac1d287" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]It was bizarre that England only started playing with purpose and intensity in the final 10 minutes of the game, with players finally making forward runs off the ball. Because all of that England created two good chances in the closing stages, one of which [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a] would put away with his eyes closed nine times out of ten.[/p][p]The first 80 minutes felt far too pedestrian. Yes, Ghana did sit in very deep and compact, more than happy with the point they needed to qualify for the knockouts. But it highlighted a glaring issue in the England squad. An issue that concerned supporters vocalised before the tournament: a lack of creativity.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eze-eberechi/Stf4BYFn/"]Eberechi Eze[/a] are all wonderful players, but they are also all more goalscoring 10s who are best when running at defenders rather than unlocking a defence with a visionary pass. The problem Tuchel had, however, was that England's two best creative players, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foden-phil/E7XjDJns/"]Phil Foden[/a], hadn't done enough for their clubs to justify the call-up. And having spent time with both players in past squads, Tuchel must have made an informed decision that neither fit into the squad dynamic and harmony crucial to everything the German is trying to achieve. [/p][p]Tuchel is also likely banking on facing more teams that will come at England than those who sit back and ask to be broken down like Ghana. It was also just an off day, and you can expect England to come back firing on all cylinders against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a].[/p][p]It isn't like Tuchel's side doesn't have players capable of creating.[/p][h2]Tuchel should make changes vs Panama[/h2][p]A fully fit [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Bukayo Saka[/a] is set to return to the starting lineup against Panama and he is more than capable of unlocking a defence. [/p][p]Saka will bring a different dimension to England's attack, as would [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] if he starts ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] after the new [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] man's disappointing performance against Ghana.[/p][p]After [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-elliott/KdYCbsbE/"]Elliot Anderson[/a] struggled in possession, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mainoo-kobbie/nBy3DbC3/"]Kobbie Mainoo[/a] coming into the midfield makes sense, and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Man Utd[/a] youngster will add the type of composure to the team that was missing at times against Ghana.[/p][p]If he grows into the game, Mainoo is also capable of upping the tempo of the attacking play with one-touch passing, clever body feints and unique dribbling qualities.[/p][p]With qualification all but secure, this feels like the ideal time to make some personnel changes and if it works, there is an opportunity for players to earn a place in the starting eleven for the first knockout round.[/p][h2]What was said after Ghana game?[/h2][p]The message from Tuchel and the players was clear after the Ghana draw: this is no time to panic. [/p][p]Jude Bellingham summed up the mood of his teammates and coach,[b] "I just told him not to waste them all now," [/b]he joked. [b]"No worries, no stress, no drama at all in there (the dressing room)... (we have) four points, puts us in a good position.[/b][/p][p]“(As one of the) experienced players, my message has just been to stay positive, keep the good atmosphere we've got going. It's not the end of the world."[/p][p]Bellingham's post-match comments were articulated the best, but the message was consistent throughout the squad: it was a frustrating day at the office, but far from a crisis, and the way they are approaching this World Cup hasn't changed.[/p][h2]Analysis: Not the time to panic[/h2][p]England's draw against Ghana feels more like a minor bump in the road than a genuine reason for concern. Getting a performance like that out of the way in the group stages might prove to be a blessing, if anything. England's forward players had an off day, but they will be determined to put things right against Panama and fully expect them to do exactly that.[/p][p]It was also a game that has quietened the noise surrounding England's defensive issues after Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa (aside from one moment of Konsa madness) produced commanding performances whilst showcasing the crucial recovery pace in a high line. With those two at the back for the rest of the tournament, Tuchel can most effectively play the high pressing style that has been so effective so far for England. [/p][embed guid="64438b03-2758-4e33-8c72-8fc245da85e7" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2069553762868355341" social-type="twitter" /][p]A similar result and performance against Panama and the alarm bells will ring, but for now, there is no need to panic. Tuchel's England have showcased in their opening two games a clear game plan and a positive style that has plenty of promise. [/p][p]Partly down to Ghana's passive approach and partly their own incompetence in attack, England stumbled once again in their second game at a major tournament. However, recent history suggests an early slip-up can become a distant memory with a positive response, and praise quickly replaces criticism. [/p][p]England have a chance to get their tournament back on track on Saturday evening at the first attempt, and there is no reason to believe they won't. After all, the confidence and belief that runs throughout the England squad is for good reason. [/p][p]The Three Lions are used to being there or thereabouts at major tournaments, and now they have a man coaching them who knows exactly how to do the one thing they haven't as a team: win.[/p][infobox id="938dea4e-717b-43a6-9d12-646fc87ad9a9" /]