In the midst of a tight four-day turnaround that offers precious little time for re-tuning, England are left in bittersweet symphony, desperate to hit the right note in their final group game on Saturday.
Like the rest of the country, Thomas Tuchel was positively purring after his team sang Oasis with fans after swatting aside Croatia, and he offered a history lesson to us all by quoting the late Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan in explaining that the key to directing an orchestra is “don’t disturb the music”.
In return, history taught Tuchel a lesson of its own. Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, marked the fourth consecutive tournament in which England have followed victory in their opening game with a stodgy draw in their second. The 1982 World Cup remains the only tournament where they have won all three group games. “Tradition”, Tuchel wryly quipped.
He and England seem largely tranquil about the loss of momentum. That is the right approach to take.
England, after all, did not commit a sin other teams at this World Cup haven’t also. Spain drew with Cape Verde and Portugal with DR Congo; these things happen, and tournaments are won in week four — or, as this case may be, week six — not in the group stage where only catastrophe causes jeopardy.
Not England. Dropping points to Ghana, the fifth lowest-ranked team at this World Cup, is a concern in concentrate, but they still sit below Group L leaders England, who will finish top and all will be well again if, as expected, they see off Panama — already eliminated and already defeated twice — in New Jersey on Saturday.
Jude Bellingham, as though reading out one of those vacuous mantras from a piece of coffee shop ‘wall art’, summarised the mood in camp. “No worries, no stress, no drama, stay positive.” Keep calm and carry on.
And they must. Even if Panama have improved, they were still trounced 6-1 by England at Russia 2018 in their only previous meeting. Better getting a deflating draw with Ghana out the way now — and England can learn from it. Enough hold, but no give, yet maybe this was the right time.
It wasn’t vintage England, but it was classic England: dropping needless points in the group stage against weaker opposition. They might have even lost had Ezri Konsa’s very suspect challenge on Prince Adu in the box been adjudged a foul.
“They defend deep, deep, deep, probably deeper than we expected,” said assistant coach Anthony Barry in his latest, now much-anticipated, half-time interview, and Tuchel echoed that sentiment at full-time. To publicly remark on Ghana’s defensive structure is not to find a way of fracturing it, though, and Tuchel complained afterwards about the length of the grass being too long. Never a good look.
Among the tactical problems confronting England is a fault shared by both left-backs, Djed Spence and Nico O’Reilly. These are players with beautifully differently skill sets — that’s why it’s those two here in America and not others — yet both get caught out of position when opponents run at England. Bellingham never passed to Harry Kane in the Croatia game, but there was enough incision and risk from both individuals, and England as a whole, for that not to matter. Ghana plugged the gaps.
England must prove against Panama and from here on in that they can score when penalties are not awarded, corners aren’t forthcoming
Tuchel was still yet to decide whether he was going to rotate his team fully for the third group game. He is understood to still be minded to freshen things up — just “more moderated” now than if already through as group winners with two wins from two. Marcus Rashford, John Stones and Kobbie Mainoo will fancy their chances; Bukayo Saka again made an impact off the bench and is pushing for a first start against Panama.
Efficiency on the wings is crucial. That’s what was so cathartic about that second half against Croatia. England must prove against Panama and from here on in that they can score when penalties are not awarded, corners aren’t forthcoming, and when prevented by opponents from scything through midfield with precision and punch.
It did seem to stun England’s coaching staff quite how close to their own box Ghana barricaded themselves in. While Panama on Saturday will also set up to frustrate, England fortunately won’t have too many more obstinately defensive opponents to come. The latter stages of this World Cup will bring attritional, end-to-end encounters.
Just how England like it. Their best wins under Sir Gareth Southgate were 3-2 against Spain in the Nations League in 2018, 2-0 against Germany at the Euros in 2021, and 2-1 in the Netherlands semi-final at Euro 2024. Under Tuchel, September’s 5-0 win in Serbia and the 4-2 win over Croatia eight days ago. I know that was then, but it could be again. All in good time.
Declan Rice called the second half against Croatia “the benchmark for us” and was right that England in that mood can beat anyone. The midfield trio of him, Bellingham and the irrepressible Elliot Anderson is functioning well. Tuchel may tinker, but he should defer to Von Karajan on that.
Too many England teams of the past have sought to conceal their weaknesses, not play to their strengths. Tuchel amused when he admitted his mind wandering against Croatia, picturing fans in pubs back home enjoying the full-throttle football — and head coach and expectant public share one thing very much in common: they both know England’s strength is the attack. Their firepower in the final third is the battery that will power them through this World Cup. Time to recharge, plug and play.
