Former England striker Wayne Rooney has praised Carlos Queiroz’s tactical approach after Ghana secured a resilient 0-0 draw against England in their Group L clash at the Boston Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Both sides entered the match on the back of opening-day victories at the 2026 World Cup, but it was Ghana who stood firm under sustained pressure to frustrate the Three Lions.
England dominated long spells of possession and ended the contest with 79 per cent of the ball — the highest recorded by any team that failed to score in a World Cup match in six decades — yet they were repeatedly denied by a well-organised Black Stars defence.
Speaking on the BBC, Rooney highlighted England’s difficulty in breaking down deep defensive blocks while also crediting Ghana’s structure and discipline.
“You’re always hoping for that energy and that performance that we had against Croatia in the second half. These games are so difficult when the teams sit back,” the former Manchester United striker said.
“You have to break them down, and you have to find the space. For me, the key was getting crosses into the box. That is where all the chances came from.
“That was a typical Carlos Queiroz performance. Ghana were excellent, and they were disciplined,” he added.
The result leaves both teams level on four points at the top of Group L heading into the final round of fixtures.
England will now prepare for their meeting with Panama, while Ghana face a decisive clash against Croatia as qualification for the knockout stage hangs in the balance.
