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England stifled creatively against Ghana as the Three Lions’ second-game curse struck again in perhaps its most frustrating iteration – but is Thomas Tuchel’s biggest worry at the other end of the pitch?
England have conceded just 0.87xG in their first two games and faced only a solitary shot on target against Ghana on Tuesday night.
However, the other night the Three Lions could and indeed should have conceded a penalty for an injury rash challenge on Prince Adu that was inexplicably ignored by the officials. The error was so glaring, it prompted Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz to sarcastically question whether VAR was working at the time.
There were still a few holes at the back, though England were a bit disorganized for 45 minutes against an aging Croatia side before they found their feet through Thomas Tuchel’s half-time Churchillian team talk. Had it not been for some injury-time Harry Kane heroics, they could have faced a nervy final few minutes in Dallas as well.
A team that hasn’t conceded a goal in qualification, weakness against both sides nobody expects to plant much in this final is a concern, especially as time runs out before a tough test.
D Reece James’ injury only adds to England’s woesThe right-back is out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring problem.
The phrase ‘offense sells tickets, defense wins championships’ was originally coined as an American football idiom but on the home soil of this summer’s World Cup it is as relevant as any knockout tournament.
Going back to the first 32-team World Cup in 1998, five of the seven winners kept five clean sheets and allowed just one goal in their remaining two matches. In 2010, Spain won each of their four knockout games 1–0 and scored just eight times throughout the tournament, contrary to their reputation at the time.
Put another way, Argentina scored eight goals in 2022, the most in any World Cup win since West Germany in 1954 – but they had arguably the best player of all time to call on at the other end.
England’s defense has been a question mark since long before the tournament. The Three Lions’ world-class options are front-loaded at the other end of the pitch, and while there is distinct quality at the back, there are undoubtedly limitations.
Tuchel knows the limitations of his backline selection and it was interesting to see him make two changes as England always dominated possession in a game to draw with Ghana.
“Djed Spence and Marc Guehi are fit to play, our players have a bit more pace and a bit more profile,” explained the manager.
While Guihy was assured during the 90 minutes, Spence lacked the attacking presence that Tuchel wanted. He was then substituted after 66 minutes for Nico O’Reilly, who could provide that attacking outlet but lacked the same pace and defensive awareness – leading directly to a counter-attack that should have punished Consa. Most of Tuchel’s options in defense present similar trade-offs.
DZ Spence gave England defensive security against Ghana but lacked bite going forward
More worrying is that Konsa, starting both games as the only defender alongside Rhys James and one of England’s more established regulars, had shaky moments in both matches.
The Three Lions will, of course, defend differently when they play against a bigger nation but, against Tuchel’s wishes, they spent much of the first half against Croatia sitting in a low block – and found life difficult across defense and midfield.
Offensively, playing without the ball can suit England by attacking the opposition with quick transitions and quick vertical play, as the whirlwind second 45 minutes against Croatia showed.
But this creates the problem of revealing a weak underbelly. “(Declan) Rice and (Elliott) Anderson have to be outstanding and protect our defence,” said Sky Sports’ Gary Neville during England’s nervous opening game.
The head coach’s selection shows he’s still trying to find that right balance, though doesn’t do much to help build a permanent backline.
But there are reasons to remain optimistic for England and Tuchel that things can click. Of the seven previous World Cup victories, all have failed to keep a clean sheet in at least one group game and five have conceded half or more of their entire tournament goals before the knockouts.
This is the moment to fine-tune things, iron out those initial teething problems and, hopefully, start building that understanding backwards.
If England do business against Panama and win Group L, they will face the third-placed team in the last 32 and have another chance to go to jail. But a trip to Mexico in the last sixteen and a match against Brazil in the quarter-finals will end the testing period.
Ultimately, those question marks about England’s quality against world-class frontlines later in the tournament will remain regardless – and give Tuchel some serious food for thought.
