Harry Kane and his Three Lions crashed this Tuesday with the Ghana defense, with which they drew goalless near Boston, but they were in a good position to qualify for the round of 32 of the World Cup.
The England captain scored a blank in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and stood out from the other stars participating in the World Cup, such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, who never tire of going through the goal register.
Combative and supportive as always, the Bayern Munich star was well marked by the Black Stars’ defense, which also jammed the English midfield and came close to taking the three points thanks to the speed of Antoine Semenyo’s counterattack.
The 1966 world champions, however, pressed in the final stretch and were very close to breaking the tie, but they wasted three clear options, including a poorly connected volley by Kane (87′) inside the area.
“I’ve been a striker long enough to know that they’re not always going to go in. I trust myself nine times out of ten, but today it just didn’t work out for me,” the 32-year-old attacker told BBC Radio.
– Recognize “Ghana merit” –
The captain did not have the wisdom of his debut, when he scored a double in the 4-2 victory against Luka Modric’s Croatia, a victory that propelled his country as one of the contenders for the title in North America.
Supported en masse by their fans, the team led by the German Thomas Tuchel continues to lead Group L with four units, the same as their African rival, whom they surpass on goal difference.
They are followed by Croatia, which eliminated Panama (1-0) this Tuesday in Toronto, with three points, with one day remaining until the end of the first phase.
England will culminate the group round against the Central Americans on Saturday in East Rutherford, just outside New York. On the same day, the Africans will have a direct duel with the Croatians in Philadelphia.
“We still have a good chance of finishing first in the group against Panama, so there is optimism,” midfielder Declan Rice told the BBC.
The inventors of football had their biggest test yet in their campaign to reload the World Cup, and they didn’t come off very well.
Led by the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, known for his tactical methodism, Ghana became a glass in the English half thanks to a defense that closed spaces and disconnected a disappointing Jude Bellingham.
– Queiroz wins the hand over Tuchel –
Thomas Partey returned to the Black Stars after missing the match against Panama (1-0) in Toronto because the Canadian authorities denied him a visa. The former Arsenal midfielder is facing trial over rape allegations in the UK.
“They defended with a lot of determination, with a lot of discipline and with one of the most physical performances I have seen from a team when it came to defending,” Tuchel said of his opponent.
England had an overwhelming 78% possession. According to the Opta statistics platform, this is the highest percentage recorded by any team in a World Cup match without scoring.
But his possession dominance only included three clear options to break Benjamin Asare’s goal, all in the final moments of the game at Gillette Stadium, attended by 63,983 spectators.
Four minutes from time, the explosive Bukayo Saka (86′), who entered the field to replace Anthony Gordon, demanded the goalkeeper with a right-footed shot from the left.
Immediately afterwards (87′), Nico O’Reilly headed a cross that hit the crossbar and the ball then returned to the heart of the area, where Kane connected with a left-footed volley that sent the ball into the clouds.
Nothing more for one of the teams that raised their hands when asked who aspired to the crown.
“We broke them, we were successful on all fronts,” Queiroz said. “Football is not just tactics and technique. It is about bravery, courage, determination, intelligence.”
