2026 World Cup: I rarely saw a physical performance like that from a team - England boss Thomas Tuchel hails Ghana’s defensive discipline after stalamate

England manager Thomas Tuchel has praised Ghana’s resilience and tactical organisation after the Black Stars held the Three Lions to a 0-0 draw in their Group L encounter on Tuesday night.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel admitted his side struggled to break down a well-structured opponent who executed their defensive game plan with precision and physical intensity throughout the contest.

The England boss noted that his team dominated possession for long spells but found little reward against a Ghana side that remained compact and committed, particularly in defensive phases.

"Credit to them. I rarely saw a physical performance like that from a team," the former Chelsea boss told the BBC.

"They defended with 10 players in a deep, deep block, so it made it difficult for us because they were very disciplined and very physical in every position, so it took us a while to break this block down, to find this rhythm.

"Everything was our responsibility to find rhythm. At the same time, you need to be careful not to concede counterattacks," he added.

England controlled 79 per cent of possession — the highest recorded by a team that failed to score in a World Cup match in six decades — yet they were unable to find a way past Ghana’s well-structured backline.

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

England now shift focus to their meeting with Panama, while Ghana prepare for a decisive clash against Croatia, with qualification for the knockout stage finely poised.