Thomas Tuchel faces two significant training sessions in Kansas City as England continue to search for fluency at this World Cup. The team are still trying to settle on the right partnerships, still working toward a sharper rhythm, and still looking for that moment when everything properly clicks. There may also be questions over how they respond when matches do not unfold as expected.
The challenge of breaking down deep, compact defences could become a defining test of Tuchel’s preferred style as the tournament progresses. England have so far looked short of invention when opponents sit in, protect space and force them to find a way through a disciplined wall of bodies.
There are concerns at the other end, too, with England showing some vulnerability to counter-attacks across their first two matches in what has been a relatively kind group. Those issues become less damaging, however, if they can play with greater bravery and purpose in possession — something Tuchel has been urging from his players.
England cannot afford to be knocked off balance so easily. If they are to make a deep run in the competition, they will need composure, patience and a far more ruthless edge when chances arrive.
The frustration visible on Tuesday reflected the way the match developed. Unlike against Croatia, England were not given space to move freely or attack with the same freedom. That should not have come as a surprise. Many teams, aware of the attacking talent Tuchel can call upon, are likely to take a similarly cautious approach.
England were unable to break through Ghana’s yellow wall in Boston
England’s frustrating goalless draw will have offered encouragement to their rivals
The awkward, irritating aspects of England’s scoreless draw will not have gone unnoticed by their rivals. Pack the middle, deny space and counter quickly now appears a workable plan unless Tuchel can address the flaws at Swope Soccer Village before the squad travels to New Jersey for Saturday’s meeting with Panama.
‘Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up,’ was Bellingham’s assessment of Ghana. ‘It’s important for us not to get too negative, not to get too het up on it. My message has just been to make sure we stay positive, keep the good atmosphere we’ve got going. It’s not the end of the world.’
It most certainly isn’t and England should still top Group L, meaning a favourable draw against a third-place team in the last 32 – and likely another opponent willing to sit in and make life difficult. Likely last 16 foes Mexico may also adopt that policy. And Bellingham talked up the idea that an early test like Ghana, with their insistence on camping in their own penalty area, could stand them in good stead.
That may come to pass, just as long as they learn from Boston. Learn that the ball needs progressing quicker, that the well drilled are only truly unnerved when moved about and toyed with. Learn not to chase. Tuesday needed somebody to control their tempo, to pilot a measured onslaught with craft and guile. That ingredient went missing. A bit of patience, ignoring the overriding tension inside their bodies.
Tuchel refuted suggestions that anybody got themselves under the skin of his side, although the decision-making at crucial moments and the occasional flashpoint pointed towards Ghana having done their jobs in that respect.
‘I know that England like open games and we didn’t make it easy for them to play against us,’ a boisterous Queiroz said. ‘One of the goals in our tactical approach was to frustrate the best skills that England have in the squad. Corner kicks, diagonals into the box, on the wings. We controlled all the penetration movements.’
Queiroz was in his element, somewhat mischievous.
How England choose to counter these ideas will be to continue keeping the pitch wide. Fundamentally, what they devise here seems sound – especially when the full backs find channels inside to inflict damage, such as when Nico O’Reilly made a ‘box-crashing’ run late on only to hit the bar with his header.
Nico O’Reilly (3) added to England’s attacking threat when he came off the bench – but his header came crashing off the bar when he had made a trademark run to the back post
England toiled to create proper chances until very late in their second game, largely once Bukayo Saka was introduced on the right
Harry Kane didn’t drop deep that often against Ghana, as his heatmap reveals – there needs to be a more coherent link-up behind him moving forward
There were flickers, especially early on, yet the general display in Boston felt more about individuals. Individuals not quite hitting their combinations with others and not quite reaching their own performance level. It did look more like players still needed to fully understand each other’s game than a tactical issue.
Kane, interestingly, hadn’t dropped quite as deep or as often yet there needs to be a more coherent link-up behind him moving forward. Bellingham should be thriving up there alongside the Bayern Munich striker.
What might prove a tough ask over the coming days is not drifting to thinking of the squad selection – no mercurial Cole Palmer, for example – while remembering how England toiled to create proper chances until very late in their second game, largely once Bukayo Saka was introduced on the right.
But this is what Tuchel has picked and what he believes can deliver a second star. It needs fine tuning, it does have its flaws, and the key will be quite how quickly they can be corrected.
