A 0-0 draw is not the end of the world, but England must rediscover their bite.

Written by Han Yixi Under the drizzle at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, USA, England completed their second match of the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, drawing 0-0 with Ghana. This was the fourth 0-0 of this World Cup, and also England's 23rd draw in World Cup history, alongside their 13th goalless draw—both are competition records. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and declared, "I'm back." Could it be that England are also hinting at a similar comeback?

After the match, Jude Bellingham, named Player of the Match, was not fully convinced by the award. "Honestly, it should have gone to one of their defenders who played brilliantly," he said. Two points from two games doesn't look terrible on paper, but the Real Madrid midfielder was somewhat dejected.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel was not too disappointed. "I knew it would be a tough game. We needed patience and then courage at the right moments. I appreciate the team's attitude, but sometimes you also need a bit of luck. I hope the fans don't lose faith in us," he said.

After a near-perfect debut with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the opening round, Tuchel made two changes to the lineup, both addressing the relatively low-rated defense from the first match. Marc Guéhi replaced John Stones at center-back, and Djed Spence came in for Luke O'Nien at full-back, while the midfield and forward line remained unchanged.

A minor pre-game incident saw Ghana's witch doctor, Bonnam, claim he would put a curse on Harry Kane to render him ineffective against Ghana. Whether this added pressure on Kane is unclear, but the England captain's performance was far from his two-goal display against Croatia in the opener. Over the entire match, Kane managed only 19 touches—his lowest in a World Cup match where he played at least 90 minutes—and missed a golden chance late on, leaving him frustrated afterward. "Most of the time, I'd finish that kind of chance easily, but that's football," he said. He also attributed his poor form to being closely marked: "Most of the time, Thomas Partey was right on me, leaving me little space to drop deep and then make runs forward."

Ghana's former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey missed the first game due to a historic sexual assault allegation that led to a visa denial from Canada, but he was eligible to play in the US. Veteran coach Carlos Queiroz immediately restored him to the starting lineup. Before kickoff, Djed Spence refused to shake Partey's hand, sparking minor discussion, but it didn't affect Partey's composure or performance—he shadowed Kane throughout the game in key areas. The Ghanaian side, with a resolute defensive effort, achieved the result they wanted.

Ghana applied high intensity from the start, using physicality to disrupt England's rhythm. Despite enjoying a whopping 79% possession, the "Three Lions" registered 19 shots without finding the net. Their closest chance came in the 86th minute when substitute Luke O'Nien headed against the crossbar. The last time England had 19+ shots in a goalless draw was 24 years ago in a World Cup match against another African side, Nigeria. Ghana became the eighth African team England have faced in World Cups, with a record of five wins and four draws (still unbeaten), though draws are becoming too frequent.

England legend Alan Shearer doesn't see the draw as a disaster, stressing that the team still controls their destiny for advancement and top spot in the group. However, Shearer noted, "This was a serious test for England."

Breaking down a deep defensive block is always a challenge in world football. One wonders if Tuchel now regrets leaving out both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, whose creativity in tight spaces is something the current squad lacks. Even the 2-meter-tall Harry Maguire, with his aerial threat from set pieces, offers something that Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa cannot provide.

Of course, a goalless draw is far from a disaster, and the Three Lions shouldn't worry too much about their prospects. A sluggish second group game has become something of a recent tradition for England—at Euro 2021, they beat Croatia in the opener but were held to a 0-0 draw by Scotland; at the 2022 World Cup, they thrashed Iran 6-2 in their first match, then were held to a 0-0 draw by the USA; at Euro 2024, they beat Serbia in the opener before drawing 1-1 with Denmark in the second game. None of those results prevented them from finishing top of their group, and on two of those occasions they even reached the final.

However, Tuchel does need a Plan B. Both Spain and Portugal, after being stunned with draws in their opening matches, made personnel and tactical adjustments to secure emphatic victories in their second games. Tuchel doesn't need to panic, but he must prepare more alternatives and continue to show his team's teeth.