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<\/p>\nEngland toiled against Ghana at the World Cup, with Jamie Carragher suggesting that Thomas Tuchel’s selection decisions will be scrutinized as a result of the lack of excitement<\/p>\n
23:04, 23 Jun 2026Updated 23:07, 23 Jun 2026<\/p>\n
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Liverpool legend and prominent pundit Jamie Carragher.(Image: Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
There have been some truly great games at the World Cup so far. Tuesday’s England vs Ghana fixture was certainly not one of them.<\/p>\n
The Three Lions had the bulk of the possession and the chances \u2014 one especially big one was blazed over by Bayern Munich<\/a> star Harry Kane \u2014 and Ghana’s resilience at the back should be admired, but the frustration was palpable. England<\/a>, unsurprisingly, given that it has happened so often in the last couple of decades, was lacking a spark. The match mercifully ended in a goalless draw.<\/p>\n Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze were thrown on in the second half \u2014 so too, rather too late in the day, was Manchester United’s<\/a> Marcus Rashford \u2014 but the pattern of the game was already set. Set-pieces looked the most likely avenue.<\/p>\n “When Jude Bellingham<\/a> and Declan Rice play between the lines against a defense set-up like this, you either need a bit of magic from them outside the box, or the wingers to deliver far more than they are currently doing,” Jamie Carragher wrote for The Telegraph<\/a> at half-time.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s England\u2019s problem here. The longer this goes on, the more we must look to the bench and ask who can come on and make a difference?<\/p>\n “Rice and Bellingham are all about power and energy; they aren\u2019t magicians in the spaces between the lines.<\/p>\n “If this continues, the debate will start regarding Cole Palmer\u2019s absence, and we\u2019ve seen so many games like this in major tournaments.<\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel speaks to his players during the hydration break(Image: (Bradley Collyer\/PA Wire))<\/p>\n “Those who championed Palmer\u2019s inclusion foresaw tactical conundrums like this \u2014 which is why some of us thought it better to have him as an option.”<\/p>\n Palmer is not the only one. There are other flair players \u2014 the likes of Adam Wharton and Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/a> \u2014 who have been left at home too, with both calls raising eyebrows.<\/p>\n Of course, Tuchel’s reasoning for his selection was about balance. The best players do not necessarily make the best team when put together.<\/p>\n It felt inevitable, though, that England would be the ones to produce a dire performance at some point. Ghana sat in, yes, but there has been plenty of entertainment on show at this tournament regardless.<\/p>\n On paper, England should have attacking players capable of exciting. Kane and Bellingham are as good as anyone. In reality, though, Anthony Gordon<\/a> was muted and Noni Madueke repeatedly lacked quality.<\/p>\n Get Liverpool’s new 2026\/27 home kit<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a385<\/p>\n LFC Shop<\/p>\n![\"Thomas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_01KVBMGKVE8ADXSWX13YSEQA28.jpg\")
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