Anthony Barry called for patience at half-time of England's 0-0 draw with Ghana.
He was talking about England's players and their approach, but it's a message England fans would do well to listen to, with onlookers calling for the same intensity seen against Croatia less than a week ago.
It wasn’t the first time England have drawn 0-0 in a World Cup group stage. Nor was it the second time. England’s 0-0 draw with on Tuesday was the 10th time the Three Lions have drawn 0-0 in a World Cup group stage and the fifth time the result occurred in the second game of the tournament.
Of course, the context around each of those draws is different. The USA draw in 2022 was disappointing on the back of a 6-2 thrashing of Iran. The 2010 draw with Algeria was atrocious and came after the infamous draw with the USA, prompting boos from the supporters and Wayne Rooney angrily firing back at them.
The 2002 draw with Nigeria was fine in that it secured qualification, though it did cost England top spot in their group.
Some of those draws were because of an alarming lack of quality, but as England’s stalemates go, this one was mostly fine.
Viewed in isolation, the performance was shocking. England didn’t look like scoring until the 87th minute, when Nico O’Reilly hit the crossbar and Harry Kane somehow blazed the rebound over from close range.
Sure enough, Thomas Tuchel has come in for criticism from the expected quarters. The high after the performance against Croatia has gone, and now we don’t think the quality is there to beat a Spain or a France.
There were plenty of fair questions of Tuchel’s squad selection prior to the World Cup, leaving home the likes of Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Adam Wharton, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, all of whom could have made a difference on Tuesday night, but Tuchel has selected his squad with the desire to win knockout games, not group games.
In this World Cup, group games are even less important than before. Each of Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Argentina dropped points in the group stage en route to victory. Now with only 16 out of 48 teams being eliminated, the top sides can ease their way in.
There’ll have been no panicking from Spain after their stunning draw with Cape Verde; that game didn’t make them any less likely to win the World Cup, and nor does England’s draw with Ghana.
If there is a concern about the draw with Ghana, it’s that when presented with a low block, England had no answers. After the first hydration break, nothing changed; after half-time, nothing changed. Fresh legs in the form of Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined with the aerial threat of Nico O’Reilly did create openings for England, but they were unable to break through.
But Tuchel is aiming to win the World Cup, and typically World Cups aren’t won by breaking down teams in a low block. The toughest tests England look likely to face in the knockout stages are Mexico at the Azteca, Brazil in Miami and Argentina in the semi-finals. These will be more even contests, with more space afforded to exploit, and as seen against Croatia, when there is space to exploit, Tuchel’s England will take advantage of it.
Tuchel has drawn inspiration from the Premier League. He wants his side to be dangerous in transition, hence the inclusion of Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford, while Palmer and Foden watch on from home.
He also wants his side to be protected against counter-attacks. Few would argue that Lewis Hall and Alexander-Arnold are better full-backs than Djed Spence, but the Tottenham man has the pace that Tuchel values, and don't be surprised to see him line up opposite Lamine Yamal should England and Spain meet.
There were a couple of telling points from Tuchel and his assistant coach Anthony Barry before and during Tuesday’s draw. Firstly, Tuchel admitted to bringing Djed Spence in for O’Reilly to help prevent counter-attacks, something he clearly wasn’t bothered about against Croatia. Secondly, Barry reaffirmed that point at half-time and called for patience rather than more intensity. Even after the game, Tuchel seemed entirely unbothered by the draw, and rightly so. A defeat might have been different, but England remain 1/10 to top their group.
There was a frequent emphasis on being settled in possession, so that if Ghana did win the ball, England should be able to deal with it. There was one moment late on when Ezri Konsa ought to have given a penalty away when Eberechi Eze had his pocket picked, but beyond that, Ghana offered nothing.
There are tougher tests to come, of course, and England could neither win nor lose the World Cup in Boston on Tuesday. Fans and pundits called for more intensity – understandable, but to achieve what? Tuchel won’t rip up his masterplan and risk injury for an inconsequential group game.
Had Kane put his chance away, the call for patience would have been vindicated. As it happened, England were left frustrated. Don’t be surprised to see a similar outcome against Panama on Saturday, where England may well only win by the odd goal against a stubborn outfit.
These aren’t the games England need to be at their best for. England’s World Cup really begins in Mexico City in two weeks’ time.
Bet on England at the World Cup.
Odds displayed in the above article were correct at time of writing and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
