England 0–0 Ghana, Rice injury worry, and Panama decider looms

England 0–0 Ghana, stuck, but still top

Your team had 78.8% of the ball and did nothing with it. England 0–0 Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, and that possession figure is the highest ever recorded in a World Cup match without a goal, going back to 1966 (2) (4) (10).

Jude Bellingham had a late chance that would have nicked it, but Ghana held firm. Tuchel summed it up bluntly: "At the end we thought we had them" (15).

England remain top of Group L on goal difference. Qualification still in your hands Saturday against Panama (10).

Rice limps out with calf strapped

Declan Rice walked through the mixed zone with his left calf strapped and a visible limp (8). He played it down: "It's just what I've been nursing probably in the second half of the season at Arsenal, little neural pains here and there." He called the withdrawal precautionary (8).

With Panama four days away, his fitness is now the big question.

Kane swallowed by Partey shadow

Harry Kane did not hide from it. "I was almost man-marked by Partey for a lot of the game," he said. "I didn't really have the space to drop deep and then arrive late in the box" (7).

Thomas Partey followed him everywhere. Ghana defended the box well, and Kane's late miss summed up a frustrating night.

Bellingham and Queiroz clash on the touchline

A silly tackle, a bad reaction, and suddenly Bellingham was in a heated exchange with Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz (6). Tuchel refused to hammer his midfielder: "It was a silly tackle and a bad reaction, but Jude is an emotional player" (6).

Queiroz was furious about more than that. He wanted a penalty and a red card when Ezri Konsa challenged Prince Adu in the box. "VAR was on holiday," he said. "They went to get a coffee, which is normal. But that was a clear penalty and a red card" (13) (16).

Spence refuses Partey handshake

Djed Spence declined to shake Thomas Partey's hand before kickoff (11). Partey faces rape allegations in the UK. Spence made his call, and it was noticed.

Reality check, not panic

Phil McNulty called it straight: no need to panic, but this was a reality check (9). England created little against a well-drilled Ghana side. The defence held, just about, and the Konsa penalty shout could have gone the other way on a different night.

Fan reactions

Fans are restless after watching 78.8% possession produce nothing. The OptaJoe stat is everywhere, most dominant pointless performance in World Cup history. Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare trained in a swimming pool before the tournament and just kept a clean sheet against England, which is not helping the mood. Read more