2026 World Cup: We knew it was going to be tough against Ghana - England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has admitted the Three Lions were prepared for a difficult encounter against Ghana following their goalless draw in Group L action at the Boston Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ghana delivered a disciplined defensive performance to frustrate England, who controlled large spells of the game but were repeatedly denied a breakthrough despite their dominance in possession.

The result saw England enjoy 79 per cent of the ball — the highest possession recorded by a team that failed to score in a World Cup match in six decades — yet they still could not find a way past a resolute Black Stars backline.

Speaking after the match, Pickford acknowledged the challenge posed by the African side.

"We knew it was going to be tough against Ghana. We knew they would play counter-attacking football," Everton goalkeeper told the BBC.

"They were really hard to break down. We had our chances, and we had to be wary of counterattacks, but that's football, and we needed to get the first goal," he added.

The draw leaves both teams level on four points at the top of Group L heading into the final round of fixtures.

England now turn their attention to Panama, while Ghana face a decisive meeting with Croatia as qualification for the knockout stage hangs in the balance.