England draw a blank in second World Cup game – but qualification for last-32 almost assured
England and Ghana fans have been reacting to the 0-0 draw on Tuesday evening.
A sports reporter correspondent reports from outside the stadium shortly after the full-time whistle.
Full-time: Croatia beat Panama 1-0
Croatia have beaten Panama 1-0 to keep their World Cup hopes alive, while dumping the central American side out of the competition.
Ante Budimir’s goal in the 54th minute was the difference between the two sides.
Croatia move up to third in Group L, behind leaders England and Ghana in second place.
Croatia face Ghana in the final group match at the weekend, while England face Panama.
Pickford: ‘We’re still top of the group – the focus is now on next game’
We’ve heard from a third member of the England squad now.
Jordan Pickford has also spoken to the BBC after the game.
He was complimentary of Ghana describing them as having played “a good game,” but the goalkeeper insisted England “have got to be happy” even after the draw.
“We’re still top of the group, now focus on Panama and top the group.”
Half-time: Panama and Croatia drawing
Just like the earlier Group L game between England and Ghana, no goals were scored in the first half of Croatia’s clash with Panama.
The 2022 bronze medallists have enjoyed more possession, but neither team have been able to break the deadlock.
Why England are still almost certain to progress from group despite draw
Tonight’s result wasn’t what England fans wanted.
It was a disappointing and frustrating stalemate against a well-organised and disciplined Ghana.
But despite this, England remain top of Group L and are almost certain to go through.
This is because, in the newly expanded 48-team World Cup, 32 teams go through to the next round.
That’s every single first and second-placed team, and the eight best of the 12 third-placed teams.
Here’s how things stand in England’s group:
Panama and Croatia are playing now – with the score 0-0 at the time of writing.
But with four points on both of them, in an absolute worst-case scenario, it seems unlikely England will end up third.
And even if they do, they’ll have four points – more than most third-placed teams manage, so likely to qualify that way at least.
What England’s position does affect is who they will play in the next round.
Harry Kane rues missed opportunity: ‘It doesn’t always go your way’
A bit more reaction to bring you now from the England camp.
Star striker Harry Kane has give his thoughts on the draw with Ghana.
Speaking to the BBC, he was asked about his 85th-minute miss, where the ball fell to him in the box, but he skied it over.
Kane said:”You go through games like that, I was just there waiting for an opportunity like that to fall my way. The ball bounced, and I couldn’t get over the ball… it is what it is, I’ve been a striker to know it doesn’t always go your way.”
While we’ve focused a lot on England’s misery, Ghana are celebrating after today’s draw.
The Black Stars fought England to a hard-earned draw, withstanding the pressure they were put under and coming close to scoring at times.
England will remain positive, insists Declan Rice
Declan Rice says England will remain “positive” ahead of their final group stage match against Panama.
Speaking to the BBC, the midfielder says England “were unlucky not to score”, adding: “We keep going, positivity all round.”
The Arsenal player adds: “We need to stay positive, keep going and recover before the next match, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Three Lions will play Panama in New Jersey on Saturday night.
It’s a disappointing result for England, who largely dominated the game, enjoying nearly 80% of possession.
However, despite this, they couldn’t turn their possession into clear-cut chances.
It means for the fourth major tournament running, England have drawn their second match, unable to buck that odd curse.
While England couldn’t guarantee their progression to the next round with this game, they are still almost certain to get through the group.
This is because, with eight of the 12 third-place teams going through, England’s current standing and points tally means they are in a good position.
Here is how the game was played
The first half followed a largely familiar pattern, England controlled the ball, probed in and around Ghana’s box, but never troubled the goalkeeper.
It took until nearly the 60th minute for England to register their first shots on target in a double flurry.
Shortly after, Thomas Tuchel began making his first subs, bringing on Bukayo Saka and Nico O’Reilly for Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence.
Just minutes before the change, commentators for the game said Tuchel was remonstrating with the subbed off pair.
In the second half, Ghana opened up and were more attacking, having a few flashes of their own.
This included a moment when Jordan Pickford collided with Ghana’s Prince Kwabena Adu, raising questions over whether it could’ve been a foul.
England’s best chance was in the 85th minute.
Things had started to look better, with the team producing a string of chances in the last ten minutes.
Saka had a low shot from the top of the box that was saved, leading to a successive attack in which O’Reilly rattled the bar with a header.
The ball fell to Harry Kane, who, out of character, blazed over.
In the closing moments, England were unable to make it pay, with the game ending a draw.