Ghana’s Black Stars delivered a defensive masterclass on Tuesday, holding World Cup contenders England to a gritty 0-0 draw in their Group L clash at Boston Stadium. The result leaves both nations locked on four points, significantly boosting Ghana’s prospects of advancing to the Round of 32 for the first time since their dazzling run to the quarter-finals in 2010.
Queiroz’s tactical masterstroke
Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese coach appearing at his fifth World Cup, masterminded a game plan that neutralized a star-studded England side coming off a 4-2 demolition of Croatia. The Black Stars absorbed relentless pressure—England enjoyed as much as 80 per cent possession for long stretches—but remained impenetrable.
“The plan was to block them and frustrate them from the first minute to halftime—and we did exactly that,” Queiroz said at the post-match press conference. “We blocked them on set pieces, long crosses, wing attacks and runs in behind. My players showed full concentration, determination and fighting spirit.”
The veteran coach, who served two stints as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, drew on his deep understanding of English football. When asked why his side attacked more in the second half, he offered a characteristically sharp response: “I cannot play samba when they play rock and roll.”
England frustrated from first whistle
England dominated the opening exchanges, registering 283 passes to Ghana’s 54 by the 37th minute. Yet clear-cut chances remained elusive. Declan Rice headed over the bar, and Harry Kane saw a stoppage-time effort blocked by a wall of Ghanaian defenders.
“At the end of the first half, England were completely frustrated,” Queiroz said. “They had no solutions, not their usual ways to win matches.”
The pattern continued after the restart. England piled on pressure in the final minutes—Nico O’Reilly struck the crossbar with a header, and Kane blazed the rebound over the bar—but the Black Stars held firm.
A wall of steel
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made four crucial saves, while the back line defended with remarkable discipline. England managed only two shots on target throughout the match despite their dominance of the ball.
England coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the quality of the opposition. “One of the most physical performances I ever saw from a team defending,” he said.
Queiroz, however, insisted the result was no fluke. “Football is not only tactics and technique,” he said. “It is also bravery, courage, determination and intelligence. They were better in football, we were better in fighting spirit.”
A night of national pride
Wayne Rooney, working as a pundit for the BBC, was effusive in his praise for Queiroz, repeatedly highlighting the coach’s ability to train teams to defend with discipline—a skill he honed alongside Ferguson at Manchester United.
Ghana’s performance has sparked celebrations across the country and among the African diaspora. While the Black Stars were not perfect—some observers noted that Jordan Ayew and Inaki Williams should have been substituted earlier, and that Antoine Semenyo occasionally held onto the ball too long—the overall display was one of extraordinary commitment.
Queiroz, who had declared before the match that “England have three lions. We have 33 million lions,” proved his words carried weight. “We are not here to walk or let them have fun at our expense,” he said. “We got a point against a team that can win the tournament.”
What lies ahead
With four points from two matches, Ghana now turn their attention to a decisive meeting with Croatia on June 27. A win would secure their place in the knockout stages and cement what is already being hailed as one of the finest defensive performances in the nation’s World Cup history.
