The Ivorians needed just a point to reach the round of 32, having exited at the group stage in their three previous World Cup appearances.

And they settled their nerves with a goal after just seven minutes as Curacao’s defenders were caught out at the back and dispossessed by Yan Diomande, who squared for Pepe to tap in.

Then, in the 65th minute, former Arsenal forward Pepe – who was left out of the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year – got his second as he slotted a left-footed strike into the top corner past Curacao keeper Eloy Room.

It means Ivory Coast finish second in Group E with six points, winning two matches at a World Cup for the first time.

“My message to fans would be to enjoy this historic qualification, celebrate it,” Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae told his post-match media conference.

“Once we are done celebrating, please continue sending us positive vibes so we can go as far as we can in this tournament.

“I am very happy with this result. Not everything was perfect but not conceding is good for our morale. Now our group has to bask in this victory. It is easy to recuperate after a victory.

“This group is growing. They are all at their first World Cup but they are growing well – it is a team that sticks together. Even the players competing for similar positions are laughing together, always together. We have healthy competition which helps every player give their best.”

Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to play at a men’s World Cup, went down fighting as they created several chances to score.

Their best opening came shortly before half-time when forward Juninho Bacuna broke between two men and into the box but fired wide at the near post.

They leave the tournament with reputation enhanced from their performances against much larger football nations, including their first World Cup point earned from a draw against Ecuador.

They had not scored a goal in their first two games, a draw with Curacao and a defeat by Ivory Coast, but finally showed the talent they possess as they took advantage of a lacklustre display from Germany, who had already topped Group E.

Germany made the perfect start after only two minutes when Leroy Sane picked up Florian Wirtz’s clever pass in the area to fire a clinical finish beyond Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez.

Ecuador were furious, convinced they should have been awarded a foul for Alexandar Pavlovic’s high boot on Pedro Vite, but their protests were ignored.

Fuelled by that injustice, and by their masses of yellow-clad supporters, Ecuador responded with intensity and were level seven minutes later when Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo sent a low drive past Manuel Neuer.

Ecuador continued to press in the second half and were rewarded 13 minutes from time when Gonzalo Plata reacted quicker than Neuer at a corner to send their fans wild with delight.

The result is bad news for Scotland as it reduces their chances of qualifying as one of the best third-placed finishers.

Winning the group sets up a tie with Group C runners-up – and 2022 semi-finalists – Morocco in Monterrey at 02:00 BST on Tuesday.

Ronald Koeman’s side were ahead before the clock had reached the three-minute mark as Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri turned a Denzel Dumfries cross into his own net.

Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey then added the second, grabbing his third goal of the tournament, when he tapped in from close range after Virgil van Dijk nodded a delivery across the face of goal.

The Netherlands rarely needed to get out of first gear as they continued to get the better of a lacklustre Tunisia, dragging them out of position with ease and carving out chances.

But a defensive lapse allowed Tunisia to pull one back in the second half as Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders lost track of his man from a corner, allowing Hazem Mastouri to send a header into the bottom corner.

Jan Paul van Hecke restored the Dutch’s two-goal advantage as he nodded a corner towards goal at the near post which flicked off a Tunisia defender before going past the goalkeeper.

Tunisia finish bottom of Group F with three defeats, having conceded 12 goals in the process.

Graham Potter’s side sit on four points – in third place in Group F – which will be enough to send them through, where they will play one of France, Norway, Germany or Switzerland.

Japan finish second behind the Netherlands – who comfortably beat Tunisia – and will face five-time World Cup winners Brazil in the last 32.

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda put Japan into the lead in the 56th minute following a lovely move, with Ayase Ueda and Ritsu Doan playing a one-two before the latter teed up the goalscorer.

The first half had been quiet, with both teams seemingly content with a goalless draw as the game lacked energy.

But that changed after the break and, within six minutes of Japan’s goal, Elanga levelled the game for Sweden.

The Newcastle United winger – making his first start of this World Cup – stepped in from the left before firing a powerful strike from the angle of the box past Japan keeper Zion Suzuki, who appeared to see the ball late and could not keep it out.

The pace in the game fizzled out somewhat following the second-half hydration break but Elanga and Alexander Isak did force two good saves from Suzuki in stoppage time as Japan held on to their second place in the group.

The England midfielder, 23, is set to have a medical before completing his move to Etihad Stadium.

City sources insist the fee for Anderson is £116m, which would be a club record, with no bonuses attached.

Other sources claim the deal is worth up to £130m, which would represent a British record fee, eclipsing the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for striker Alexander Isak last summer.

Forest had been holding out for a higher fee for Anderson, rejecting two previous offers from City.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue and there was always a degree of confidence the deal would get done eventually, once City made a third bid.

Forest are interested in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, along with Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan, and are now expected to sign two midfielders this summer.

Anderson is preparing for England’s final Group L game against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday (22:00 BST) and told BBC Sport this week how he has pushed his club future to one side.

“It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out,” he said.

“I’ve got a plan and it’s to perform for England. I’m putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that.”

Anderson joined Forest for £35m from Newcastle in 2024 and has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

He helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and then 16th last season, when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals.

The delegation was led by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Smith, and included Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and businessman and philanthropist Ibrahim Mahama.

The officials met with the players and technical team as preparations intensified for Saturday’s decisive encounter, with Ghana needing a victory to secure a place in the Round of 32 for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Addressing the squad, Sports Minister Kofi Adams praised the team’s performances in their opening two matches and urged the players to continue carrying the hopes of millions of Ghanaians onto the pitch.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also commended the Black Stars for restoring national pride through their impressive performances, particularly the disciplined goalless draw against England.

According to him, the team’s displays had rekindled the confidence and admiration of Ghanaians both at home and abroad.

Ablakwa further delivered a message from President John Dramani Mahama, describing the President as the team’s “number one fan” and assuring the players of the government’s unwavering support.

He also revealed that President Mahama has prepared a special reward package for the squad upon their return from the tournament and expressed confidence that the Black Stars would overcome Croatia and make a deep run in the competition.

The visit highlighted the government’s continued backing of the national team as Ghana seeks to extend its stay at the World Cup.

Also present during the meeting were Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Vice President Mark Addo, Executive Council member and Black Stars Management Committee Chairman Dr Randy Abbey, former captain Stephen Appiah, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Management Committee, as well as committee members Moses Armah and Samuel Aboabire.

The Black Stars began their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama before earning a creditable 0-0 draw against England in their second Group L fixture.

After two matches, Ghana are level on four points with England at the top of Group L and remain firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages ahead of the final round of group games.

The squad departed on Thursday following a recovery session earlier in the week at Bryant University, where they regrouped a day after a hard-fought 0–0 draw with England at Gillette Stadium.

The result extended Ghana’s unbeaten run in the group and left them level on four points with England at the top of the standings after two matches, keeping qualification firmly in their hands heading into the final round.

Attention now shifts to a high-stakes clash at Lincoln Financial Field, where victory over Croatia would secure a place in the Round of 32 for the first time since 2010.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has overseen a disciplined and organised campaign so far, with his side combining defensive resilience with tactical structure to frustrate two strong opponents in succession.

The team is expected to hold a final training session on Friday to fine-tune preparations before Saturday’s decisive fixture in Philadelphia.

For Ghana, the equation is straightforward: win and advance, with a place in the knockout stage of the expanded tournament within reach as momentum builds at a crucial stage of their campaign.

The Black Stars have made a composed start to their campaign, edging Panama 1–0 in their opening fixture before producing a disciplined defensive performance to hold England to a goalless draw in their second match.

Those results have left Ghana well placed ahead of the final round of group games, with qualification for the Round of 32 firmly within reach.

Attention now turns to the decisive Group L fixtures, particularly the encounter involving Croatia, which is expected to shape the final standings and determine Ghana’s knockout pathway.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz and his side still depend on other results to fully understand their final position in the group.

The permutations remain finely balanced, but a lower finish in Group L could set up a daunting last-32 clash against either Portugal or Colombia—two sides widely regarded for their technical quality and tactical discipline.

Only a top-of-the-group finish would spare Ghana from such a heavyweight assignment in the opening knockout round.

For the Black Stars, the stakes are significant as they target a deeper run at the World Cup, aiming to replicate or surpass their historic 2010 performance, when they came close to reaching the semi-finals.

With momentum building after an unbeaten start, Ghana now stand at a crucial point in their tournament journey—one result away from either a favourable knockout draw or an early showdown with one of world football’s elite.

Tuchel admitted his side found it difficult to penetrate a well-drilled Ghanaian defence, describing the opposition’s structure and intensity as a major obstacle throughout the contest.

England enjoyed long spells of possession but struggled to convert dominance into clear chances, as Ghana remained compact and disciplined in their defensive shape.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel said: “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 side that failed to score in a World Cup match in more than 60 years — but were repeatedly denied by Ghana’s organised backline.

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

England turn their attention to a clash with Panama, while Ghana face a decisive meeting with Croatia, with qualification for the knockout stages finely balanced.

The Black Stars produced a compact and disciplined defensive display to frustrate England, who dominated possession but failed to convert their control into goals.

Thomas Tuchel’s team enjoyed 79 per cent of the ball — the highest recorded possession by a side that did not score in a World Cup match in six decades — yet repeatedly found Ghana’s backline in their way.

Despite England’s territorial dominance, Ghana limited clear-cut opportunities and held firm throughout a tense contest.

Speaking after the match, Pickford acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down the four-time African champions.

“They played a good game, but we have got to be happy. We’re still top of the group, now focus on Panama and top the group. Ghana have players like Semenyo, so you have to be ready to be called upon, and that’s what I felt I did,” the Everton goalkeeper told the BBC.

“We would’ve loved to win the game, but we have not lost. It’s tournament football, and still in our hands to top the group. You play different teams every game, and we just needed that goal; it’s as simple as that. We limited them to so few chances.”

He added that England’s inability to find the decisive goal proved costly despite their control of the match.

“We never managed to get that goal, but that’s football,” Pickford added.

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

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

Neymar also made his long-awaited return as the five-time world champions booked their place in the last 32.

Scotland started brightly but their evening unravelled after a costly mistake from Scott McKenna allowed Vinicius to round Angus Gunn and open the scoring.

The Real Madrid forward had another effort ruled out by VAR before grabbing his second of the night just before half-time, punishing another defensive lapse to leave Steve Clarke’s side with a mountain to climb.

Brazil never looked troubled after the break. Bruno Guimaraes drove through midfield before teeing up Cunha to slot home the third, while Neymar’s introduction was greeted by a huge ovation from the Brazil supporters.

The result sends Brazil through to face the runners-up of Group F in Houston on June 29, while Scotland must now wait to discover whether three points will be enough to progress as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

The Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico.

But they battled to a draw against the Czech Republic and came out on top of what was effectively a shootout with South Korea for second place in Monterrey, thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike.

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo made a shock call by leaving captain Son Heung-min — considered by many to be Asia’s greatest-ever player — out of the starting line-up.

The Asian team started strongly, with stand-in captain Kim Min-jae’s powerful header blocked on the goalline by Aubrey Modiba before Lee Kang-in flashed wide.

South Africa quickly settled, playing with hunger and adventure, but their finishing was wasteful.

They seemed certain to take the lead in the 30th minute when the ball fell to Evidence Makgopa after South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu parried Thalente Mbatha’s shot.

But Makgopa could only tamely poke the ball straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

Son came on at the start of the second half, one of three changes made by coach Hong as he sought to change the script.

Early in the second period Maseko squandered another good position while South Korea forward Oh Hyeon-gyu tested goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at the other end.

As news filtered through from Mexico City that the host nation were leading against the Czech Republic, there was an added sense of urgency.

South Africa seized their moment with Tshepang Moremi crossing to Maseko, who this time kept his cool, firing home inside the near post in the 63rd minute.

South Korea pushed hard in the closing stages but ran out of time, meaning South Africa will face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on June 28.

Mexico topped the group with nine points after winning all three of their matches.

Morocco pegged the Caribbean nation back twice – thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari – before Rahimi scored with 12 minutes to go and Yassine secured the victory.

The win was not enough for Morocco to top Group C as Brazil comfortably beat Scotland in Miami, and the 2022 semi-finalists will now face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the last 32.

But they did deny Haiti a memorable night, despite the team ranked 83rd in the world, taking the lead twice and doubling their total goals tally in the competition’s history.

Haiti were eliminated before their final game of the group stage after defeats by Scotland and Brazil, but they managed to get their first World Cup goal in 52 years when Lenny Joseph’s flicked finish came off Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou and found its way into the net.

That 10th-minute opener went down as an own goal to deny Joseph the honour of becoming the first man to join Emmanuel Sanon, who scored twice in 1974, as a Haitian scorer at the World Cup.

But Paris St-Germain full-back Hakimi pulled Morocco level in the 39th minute, bundling the ball home when Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to get a strong enough hand to Brahim Diaz’s strike.

Then Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor scored one of the goals of the tournament when he fired into the top corner from 25 yards to spark jubilant scenes among the Haiti fans two minutes before half-time.

But Morocco levelled again in first-half stoppage time as Saibari got his third of the tournament when Hakimi pulled the ball back into his path in a slick move.

Placide – who spent a season at Oldham Athletic in 2017-18 – pulled off a series of saves to deny Morocco but he could do nothing about substitute Rahimi’s effort which deflected off Haiti defender Ricardo Ade.

Yassine then turned home after Rahimi managed to just keep the ball in play – which was confirmed by the video assistant referee – with a minute to go.

Goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi in the opening 12 minutes of the second half were enough to secure top spot in Vancouver.

The victory also ensured Switzerland are only the third nation – alongside Argentina and France – to reach the knockout stages in each of the last four World Cups.

As a result, they will face one of the third-placed teams from Group E, F, G, H, I or J in Vancouver on 3 July.

Despite the defeat, Canada secured a place in the knockout stages for the first time in their history after finishing second in Group B, having drawn with Bosnia and Herzegovina and thrashed Qatar in their previous two matches.

But by failing to finish top of the standings, Jesse Marsch’s side have surrendered their home advantage and will now not play any more of their matches in Canada.

Their next match will come at the Los Angeles Stadium in California on 28 June when they will face the runners-up of Group A.

In a first half with few chances, it was Switzerland – captained by Granit Xhaka on his 149th international appearance – who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Breel Embolo saw his effort from inside the area well saved by Maxime Crepeau.

Canada struggled to trouble their opponents and – even after hitting six past Qatar last week – could only manage three tame shots on target during a timid first-half display.

Switzerland took the lead within a minute of the restart as Manzambi picked out Vargas with a cross to the back post, which the forward finished calmly to score his second goal of the tournament.

Murat Yakin’s side scored what turned out to be the winner 11 minutes later when Manzambi finished from inside the area after some impressive hold-up play from Embolo.

Canada halved the deficit 14 minutes from time when substitute Promise David finished off a delightful team move – 76 seconds after his introduction – but it wasn’t enough to spark a fightback.

They finished level on four points with Canada, but had to settle for third place on goal difference to the co-hosts.

That meant they missed out on automatic qualification for the last 32, but could still progress as one of the best eight third-placed teams in the tournament.

Temperatures touched 29C on Wednesday in Seattle, but Bosnia began with intent as Ermedin Demirovic and Ivan Sunjic forced Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada into sprawling saves from distance inside three minutes.

It was through another effort from range that Sergej Barbarez’s side broke the deadlock in the 29th minute as 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic drifted past two Qatari defenders before unleashing a thunderous right-footed strike past Abunada.

The Bosnian supporters, who were out in force, were elated as their 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, making his 150th appearance for the country, played a key role in their side’s second goal six minutes later.

His volleyed effort struck defender Sultan Al Brake to sneak in past Abunada, who was credited with an unlucky own goal.

Dzeko, who holds the record for most goals and appearances for Bosnia, almost made it 3-0 four minutes later, but his low drive hit the post after bursting clear.

Qatar, though, had their chances and captain Hassan Al-Haydos gave them hope when he bundled in a cross from Edmilson Jr to halve the deficit three minutes from break.

The Asian champions finished the half strongly as Pedro Miguel also struck the post after being played through by Akram Afif.

Afif also brushed the side-netting early in the second half as Qatar posed a threat on counter-attacks, although the Maroons lacked a cutting edge, despite sending on prolific scorer Almoez Ali for the final 20 minutes.

Bosnia defended well and wrapped up the victory in the 80th minute when Ermin Mahmic came of the bench to score for the second successive game as he slotted past Abunada after latching on to a loose ball following a scramble in the Qatar box.

It was only Bosnia’s second win in the World Cup after a 3-1 victory against Iran in their debut campaign in 2014.

While their four-point tally should be enough for a place in the next round, they must wait on the outcome of other ties to confirm their fate, while Qatar finished bottom of the group on one point.

The Blues want to add at least one central defender to their squad – amid interest in Trevoh Chalobah from Serie A club Como – and Lacroix is emerging as a key target.

Chelsea have already sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid this summer for £51.8m, and are set to complete the signing of Atalanta defender Marco Palestra for a fee in excess of £43m.

Chelsea’s next priority is at centre-back and Palace are braced for an offer from their London rivals for France international Lacroix, who is away on international duty at the World Cup.

He has three years left on his contract, is a key player for the Eagles and has been central to the club’s FA Cup and Europa Conference League triumphs.

Palace are keen to offer Lacroix a new contract but it is unclear whether the 26-year-old is ready to engage in talks.

Another option considered by Chelsea is Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon, 21.

Further complicating matters is Como’s interest in Chalobah, as they look to bolster their defence rather than weaken it, with the England international open to a move to Italy.

Ramon is also still linked to former club Real Madrid through various clauses, while the Spanish side have made Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, valued by the Blues at £120m, one of their key targets this summer. Fernandez is known to be keen on the move.

It is all part of a major summer of player sales, defensive departures and improvements for Chelsea before the official arrival of Alonso.

Palestra, who can play on both sides, is set to be first in the door. Fellow full-back Malo Gusto is considering his future at Chelsea, with the club putting a £75m price tag on the Frenchman. He is attracting interest from Manchester City.

There is further doubt on the futures of Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo, as further sales are likely needed to create space in defence, while an attacker and midfielder could also be signed at a later date.

The 23-year-old right-back’s future has come under renewed doubt after Chelsea agreed a deal in principle to sign Atalanta’s Marco Palestra, who plays in the same position, for a fee in excess of £43m.

Gusto was aware his future was uncertain before that move, and sources have told BBC Sport that his representatives have held exploratory talks with multiple clubs, including Manchester City.

However, Chelsea are demanding in excess of £75m for the Frenchman.

City are keen on signing a right-back to compete with Matheus Nunes next season, but sources have told BBC Sport that, while there is interest in Gusto, he is not a leading candidate at this stage of the transfer window.

Any move to Etihad Stadium would mean Gusto reuniting with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, whom he played under for 18 months before the Italian’s departure from Stamford Bridge in January.

Chelsea need to make significant player sales this summer after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season and missing out on European qualification.

Spain full-back Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid this summer in a deal worth £52m.

The La Liga club are also interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who they have pushed to the top of their shortlist following Jose Mourinho’s appointment at the Bernabeu.

However, Chelsea value the Argentina international at £120m.

Chelsea intend to strengthen the squad and want at least one centre-back to arrive alongside Palestra.

That has placed a number of futures in doubt, including those of Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana.

Chalobah is attracting interest from Serie A side Como, who qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish under manager Cesc Fabregas.

It is understood Chalobah is open to the move, but the potential cost of the deal is deterring the Italians from making a formal offer.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam, who previously boasted of being behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s knee injury at the 2014 tournament, posted a video to Facebook after Kane wasted an easy chance to win Tuesday night’s match in Boston.

“I am the most powerful spiritualist in the whole world. Now, I am going to release Harry Kane so that, in his next match, he can score,” Bonsam said, while performing what appeared to be some kind of ritual involving obscure objects.

“Harry, I will come and visit you. Don’t be offended. We are friends.”

In the days leading up to the game, Bonsam told the Daily Star: “I am working on Harry Kane. I have shown what I am capable of before, so I know what work I must do to stop him. I am very famous for my predictions.

“I am not wishing him serious injury. It will be just enough to stop him from attacking my country. I will do my work so that it can help Ghana.”

The threat prompted a response by Uri Geller, the illusionist who famously claimed to have moved the ball when Gary McAllister missed a penalty during England’s 1996 European Championship win against Scotland.

Vowing to “cancel” any curse, Geller said: “Before the match, I will send vibrations. I will activate all my powers, all my energy, all my know-how to stop his negative vibrations from hitting Harry Kane.”

Bonsam – whose name translates literally as “Devil of Wednesday” – claimed in 2014 to have tried to make Ronaldo miss that year’s World Cup, at which Portugal were in the same group as Ghana.

Ronaldo was injured before the tournament but still played and scored the winning goal in the game, though both countries were eliminated in the group stage.

England’s display against Ghana has been described as “a Southgate performance” by Micah Richards on the podcast he hosts with Gary Lineker.

Richards, who is also covering the World Cup for the BBC, accused Thomas Tuchel’s side of being “so easy to figure out” following their goalless draw in their second game of the tournament.

Speaking on The Rest is Football on Netflix, hours after watching Tuesday’s match from the BBC’s Salford studio, Richards said: “I just feel, though, we’re going to need to improve. This is not me panicking or being reactionary, getting over the top. It’s nothing, a case of that. It’s just we knew we were going to have these games. And that, to me, was like a Southgate performance.”

Claiming there was “no energy” in the team, he added: “They just went away from what was so impressive in that first game against Croatia.”

Sir Gareth Southgate, Tuchel’s predecessor as England manager, was repeatedly criticised on The Rest is Football during the European Championship two years ago, where England reached the final before losing to Spain.

Following a dire 1-1 group-stage draw against Denmark, Lineker called the team’s performance “s—” and suggested Southgate was “tactically inept”.

Lineker opened Wednesday’s show by saying he was “still England’s joint World Cup goalscorer” after Harry Kane wasted a late chance to score against Ghana, adding: “Every cloud.”

He later added: “You know I’m only joking on that because I want him to beat the record, I want him to score loads of goals, I want England to win the World Cup.

“But the one person you wanted it to land there. It’s just so unlike him. He’s human!”

Lineker was also far more philosophical about England’s display than he had been after their second match at Euro 2024.

Pointing out the winners of the last two World Cups, France and Argentina, had setbacks in their own group matches before they won the tournament, he said: “I wouldn’t read too much into this game personally. Jude Bellingham said the following after the game: ‘It was very frustrating. Second game fever. Same as always. Important for us – and you guys – not to get too negative. No worries, no stress, no drama, stay positive. Not the end of the world.’

“I would agree with that. I think when he’s saying, ‘You guys as well’, I think he’s obviously referring to the media, to us, and to England fans, because I think we all care about the result. And it wasn’t a great performance. But you can’t play well every game. And the time not to do well is in the group stage, when you can’t do too much damage.”

England were fortunate not to lose the game after Jordan Pickford escaped a red card and Ezri Konsa also brought down Prince Kwabena Adu in the box.

“Boy, that was a penalty,” Lineker said. “Crikey, they didn’t even seem to bother about it at all.”

Co-host Alan Shearer said, of the match: “No need to panic. It’s not a disaster, but I think football has a crazy way of bringing you back down to Earth, doesn’t it?

“I mean, after the excitement of the game against Croatia, and rightly so, because the second half in particular was very good, we were all expecting them to come out of the blocks today and bring that belief and bring that confidence into the game.

“But they started slowly, and it ended slowly, basically. They didn’t do enough to win the game. They were too slow, they were too safe, didn’t take enough risks in their passing, had one big chance, but also probably fortunate not to give away a penalty.

“So, all in all, I thought a draw was a fair result. But I did think Ghana were absolutely outstanding. Their organisation and their defending were brilliant.”

Guest Joe Cole, the former Chelsea and England midfielder, said Tuchel had been “too slow” in making substitutions and that not picking Cole Palmer or Phil Foden in his squad had left him short of players who could unlock a packed defence.

He said: “There’s always going to be a problem, especially if you leave Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home and you don’t have someone who – like Kobbie Mainoo maybe – in there who can maybe go and get on the ball and handle it and give you that little bit of magic.

“But we could’ve won it. Kane puts that in the top corner. We’re on a train. But no worries at all for me. We’re all right.”

Gary Neville, speaking on his Stick to Football podcast, argued England had been “better” in some ways than against Croatia.

Declaring “the chaos had gone” from what had been an entertaining 4-2 win last week, he said: “I enjoyed the game. I’m going to get heavily criticised for this, but there’s part of me [that] thinks that that was a better performance than the game against Croatia.”

Neville admitted Ghana should have had a penalty, but that the decision not to send off Pickford earlier in the game was the correct one.

Roy Keane, Neville’s co-host, said “Pickford got lucky a couple of times” and joked: “They obviously want England to get to the final.”

Co-host Ian Wright added, “I think we were very fortunate in that game. Because we didn’t do enough creatively, and then I thought that, look, we were very fortunate with that Konsa challenge.”

Gordon’s performance was also singled out for criticism, with Keane saying the Barcelona-bound winger looked “frightened” of the responsibility given him by Tuchel.

Neville added, “I think he’s under pressure now. I think he’s the one who’s going to find it a little bit difficult to keep his spot.”

England face Panama on Saturday in their final group-stage match.

Ghana’s backline, set up under head coach Carlos Queiroz, has emerged as one of the standout defensive units at the tournament, yet to concede a goal after two matches.

Despite facing 30 shots across their opening fixtures, the Black Stars remain among only four teams still unbeaten defensively, underlining their resilience at the back.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Lamptey highlighted the growing understanding between centre-backs Jonas Adjetey and Jerome Opoku, noting the rapid progress of the pairing on the global stage.

“I was surprised when the two centre-backs were paired. This is their first tournament. They fumbled in their first game, but yesterday they were superb. Gideon has the experience. The back four was solid,” he said.

Lamptey also reserved praise for goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, saying his performances have not come as a surprise given his consistency at club level with Hearts of Oak.

“I’m not surprised Benjamin Asare is doing well in the national team; he has worked hard for this,” he added.

The draw against England leaves Ghana in a strong position in Group L and on the brink of qualification for the Round of 32 ahead of their final group fixture.

The Black Stars will face Croatia on Saturday, June 27, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 GMT.

Ghana earned a hard-fought goalless draw against England at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night, a result that took their tally to four points and left them within touching distance of a first knockout-stage appearance since 2010.

Opoku, one of the standout performers in the match, said the squad is determined not to be distracted by early success as they prepare for the final hurdle in the group stage.

“I’m good, positive. I told you before. The vibe is good, man,” he said.

“We’re staying humble. We’re focusing on the next game. We’re not going to let anything get to our heads. We’re going to continue,” Opoku added.

A positive result against Croatia would guarantee Ghana a place in the last 16 for the first time since their memorable quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The draw leaves Ghana and England level on four points at the top of Group L heading into their final group fixtures.

England will face Panama, while Ghana take on Croatia in a match that will determine their fate in the competition.

The centre-back made the remarks after Ghana held England to a hard-fought goalless draw on Tuesday in their second Group L fixture at the Boston Stadium.

Despite facing sustained pressure and conceding 19 goal attempts, the four-time African champions produced a disciplined defensive display to frustrate Thomas Tuchel’s side and secure a crucial point.

The result moves Ghana to four points, keeping the Black Stars firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stage.

Arriving at the tournament as one of the lowest-ranked teams, Ghana have surprised many with an unbeaten start and a defensive record that remains intact, having yet to concede a goal.

Speaking after the match, Opoku dismissed criticism about the squad’s quality, insisting that external doubts have only strengthened the team’s determination.

“Ghanaians didn’t really think this team was that good, did they? Some people say this is the worst in history, to be honest with you,” he said.

“And so, me and the boys were talking about it.”

He added that the mindset within the squad is built on proving doubters wrong.

“Through my life, I’ve been an underdog, so there’s nothing unusual about being doubted. It’s been part of my journey. To prove people wrong gives me a buzz, and it does the same for the team.”

“Now we’re showing the fans and the world what we can do,” he concluded.

The draw leaves Ghana and England level on four points at the top of Group L heading into the final round of fixtures.

England will face Panama, while Ghana prepare for a decisive clash against Croatia as qualification for the knockout stage hangs in the balance.

England controlled much of the contest, dictating play for long spells and finishing with 79 per cent possession — the highest recorded by a side that has failed to score in a World Cup match in six decades. Despite their dominance on the ball, they were repeatedly frustrated by a disciplined and well-organised Ghana defence.

The Black Stars held firm throughout, maintaining their shape and limiting clear-cut opportunities as they absorbed sustained pressure from the Three Lions in a match where defensive structure proved crucial.

“We defended for most of the game. We knew it would be like that. We needed to stay in our shape and put our bodies on the line. We did that today,” he told the BBC.

“It was tough today. Props to the team, we knew we wouldn’t have much of the ball and go forward as much as we wanted to. Hopefully, we can go on to get through.

“Every attacker wants to be on the ball rather than off the ball, but it’s what the team needed.”

Semenyo also reflected on a missed opportunity during the match, admitting the moment came quickly and left him with little time to react.

“It happened so fast, I tried to move out of the way. We get forward really quickly. We’re unlucky not to get that goal.”

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

England now turn their attention to their clash with Panama, while Ghana prepare for a decisive meeting with Croatia, with qualification to the knockout stages still in the balance.

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.

Ghana produced a disciplined and organised defensive performance to frustrate England, who controlled large spells of possession but failed to convert their dominance into goals.

The result saw the Three Lions record 79 per cent possession — the highest ever by a team that failed to score in a World Cup match in six decades.

Despite their territorial superiority, England were repeatedly denied by a resolute Ghana back line that held firm throughout the contest and limited clear-cut chances.

“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 nations level on four points at the top of Group L heading into the final round of group fixtures.

England will next face Panama, while Ghana prepare for a decisive showdown with Croatia, with qualification for the knockout stage still wide open.

The Black Stars, who opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama, produced a compact defensive display on Tuesday night at the Boston Stadium to frustrate a dominant England side that controlled long spells of possession but failed to convert their superiority into goals.

Queiroz said his players executed their tactical plan with precision against one of the tournament favourites, highlighting their discipline and collective effort throughout the match.

“The first goal is achieved, and we qualified for the second round,” the former Egypt and Iran coach said after the game.

“I am so proud of the way our players fought during the game and how much they stand behind the game plan. They always believed.”

The Portuguese coach also acknowledged England’s strength while defending Ghana’s pragmatic approach, suggesting that containment was a necessary strategy against elite opposition.

“My humble opinion is that England can be a candidate to win the World Cup. It is a gift for our fans. It is a gift for some of the players we lost.

“That’s the way to win when you have to defend, you defend. I cannot play samba when they play rock and roll.”

Queiroz added that Ghana’s objective was to frustrate England early and grow into the contest, insisting that both teams had opportunities to win.

“The goal was to finish the first half with the England team frustrated and no solution to beat us. That was when we started to grow up and control the game. We could score, but unfortunately, we didn’t do it. I think England could score, so a draw was a fair result.”

Despite the draw, Queiroz framed the outcome as part of a wider target already achieved, stressing that qualification remains the priority.

“Happiness. Win is happiness, but in this moment, the win is nothing. We reached the second stage, which was the goal.”

England now shift focus to their next fixture against Panama, while Ghana prepare for a decisive final group match against Croatia, with qualification to the knockout stage still within reach.

England dominated possession with 79 per cent of the ball but were unable to break down a disciplined Ghana side, in what marked the highest possession figure by a team that failed to score at a World Cup in six decades.

The Black Stars, however, were left frustrated by two key incidents in the second half. First, Ghana appealed for a penalty after Ezri Konsa’s challenge on substitute Prince Adu Kwabena.

Moments earlier, the forward had also been involved in a collision with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, with officials awarding a free kick rather than penalising the keeper.

Queiroz, speaking after the match, mixed humour with criticism as he questioned the effectiveness of VAR.

“Is VAR still working in the World Cup?” he joked. “Do we still have VAR? I have doubts about that.” He returned to the same theme afterwards, saying:  “The VAR referee was on vacation in the second half, apparently.”

He later doubled down on the theme, suggesting the system had been absent when Ghana needed it most.

“Once again, the VAR went for coffee,” Queiroz continued afterwards. “I like to take my coffee once in a while! It’s a clear penalty and a red card [on Konsa]. Do you have any doubts about that, or is it only me who was at the game?”

The Ghana coach later softened his tone, acknowledging his sarcasm as the press conference ended.

“I am sorry for my sarcasm,” he said, “but if I say this kind of thing seriously, they punish me. So I am joking.”

The result leaves both Ghana and England level on four points at the top of Group L, with final group matches set for Saturday.

England face Panama while Ghana take on Croatia in decisive fixtures for qualification to the knockout stage.

The four-time African champions faced the Three Lions in their second Group L fixture at Boston Stadium on Tuesday night and produced a determined defensive display to earn a valuable point.

Despite England dominating possession for large spells of the contest, Ghana stood firm to frustrate Thomas Tuchel’s side and secure qualification for the knockout stage.

“The first goal is achieved, and we qualified for the second round,” Queiroz told the BBC after the game 

“I am so proud of the way our players fought during the game and how much they stand behind the game plan. They always believed. My humble opinion is that England can be a candidate to win the World Cup. It is a gift for our fans. It is a gift for some of the players we lost.”

The Portuguese tactician also explained the strategy behind Ghana’s approach against one of the tournament favourites.

“That’s the way to win when you have to defend, you defend. I cannot play samba when they play rock and roll,” he said.

“The goal was to finish the first half with the England team frustrated and no solution to beat us. That was when we started to grow up and control the game. We could score, but unfortunately, we didn’t do it. I think England could score, so a draw was a fair result.”

Reflecting on the significance of securing a qualification, Queiroz added: “Happiness. Win is happiness, but in this moment, the win is nothing. We reached the second stage, which was the goal.”

The result leaves both Ghana and England level on four points at the top of Group L heading into their final group-stage matches on Saturday.

England will face Panama, while Ghana take on Croatia as both teams look to finish strongly and secure their places in the knockout rounds.

The two sides met at Boston Stadium, where England dominated possession but found it difficult to penetrate a resolute Ghana defence that remained organised throughout the encounter.

Rice admitted that England struggled to find spaces against the four-time African champions and credited Ghana for their impressive display.

“It’s always difficult when you play against eleven behind the ball,” Rice told the BBC.

“Give credit to Ghana, they were very compact. It was tough. They are good players.

“We keep going, we still have a great chance of finishing top of the group. There’s no need to be negative, we need to stay positive,” the Arsenal midfielder added.

The result leaves both England and Ghana level on four points at the top of Group L heading into their final group-stage matches on Saturday.

England will take on Panama, while Ghana face Croatia, with both teams aiming to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament.

Just six days after their entertaining 4–2 victory over Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side encountered a very different challenge against a disciplined Ghana team that defended deep, remained compact, an succeeded in disrupting England’s attacking rhythm throughout.

Clear-cut opportunities were at a premium in a contest defined by defensive organisation rather than attacking flair, with England struggling to break down a resolute Ghanaian back line.

The game’s best chance fell to England’s record goalscorer Harry Kane in the closing stages as moments after substitute Nico O’Reilly saw a back-post header strike the upright, the rebound dropped invitingly for the Bayern Munich forward only for him to blaze over from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Bellingham was awarded the official player of the match, but the Real Madrid midfielder – who was replaced by Morgan Rogers after 73 minutes – felt it should have gone to someone else.

“I didn’t deserve it, to be honest,” Bellingham told FIFA’s in-house media. “It should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well.

“I had a couple of moments; it was hard to get into the game, and I’m grateful for whoever voted, but it should’ve gone to one of their lads. Like always, it’s second-game fever with England. Win the first one, do well and draw the second.

“It’s OK though, they played for a draw that would’ve seen them go through and fair play to them.”

As Bellingham eluded to, it means that for the fourth major tournament in a row, England have drawn their second group game.

Declan Rice agreed that the overall emotion was one of frustration, but he refused to get too downbeat after seeing their 100 per cent record end.

The Arsenal midfielder told the BBC: “Loads of top nations drew their first game, so there’s no need to be negative. We need to stay positive, keep going, and recover before the next match [against Panama on Saturday].

“You have to give credit to Ghana, they were 5-4-1 off the ball, very compact, tight spaces to play through, but of course, on the other hand, maybe we can do a little bit more with the ball and create a bit more.

“But it’s tough as they’re good players, and it was never going to be an easy game. Now we have one more in the group to finish top so we need to be positive.”

“It’s always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball as deep as they were. You’ve got to find solutions, and last 10 minutes we probably found more than we did in the game.

“We were unlucky not to score, but we stay positive, we keep going, and we still have a great chance to top the group against Panama.”

The match produced the first half of any match at this World Cup in which neither side managed a shot on target.

England’s struggles were reflected in the assessment of assistant coach Anthony Barry at the interval. Barry acknowledged that Ghana’s defensive approach had posed a significant challenge, describing their setup as “deep, deep, deep – probably deeper than we expected.”

Ghana, however, could point to a significant moment of controversy of their own late on. Prince Adu appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area by Ezri Konsa, only for the referee to wave away strong appeals for a spot-kick.

Kane: I was man-marked out the game

Kane was left to rue his big miss with the ball presenting itself at his feet just yards out after O’Reilly had struck the frame of the goal, but for once, the striker proved he is human as he lifted his left-foot shot over the crossbar.

On his late miss, Kane told the BBC: “I was kind of just there waiting for an opportunity like that to fall my way. It was kind of a game as a striker, where you’re just waiting for the ball to bounce, and it did.

“I just couldn’t quite get over the ball. I back myself to score that more often than not. So it is what it is. I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in, so I have to accept it.”

Reflecting on the match as a whole, Kane continued: “I think we had loads of protection at the ball, probably the last 15 minutes of both halves is where we were at our best.

“We had some chances, and I had a big chance, so it could have easily been a game where we came away with a win.

“We didn’t concede too many chances, a couple of counter-attacks in the whole game, but they’ve got some dangerous players, and overall we controlled that pretty well. We wanted to win, but we take the point, and we’re still in a great position in the group.

“I was kind of man-marked there with [Thomas] Partey for a lot of the game. I didn’t have the space to drop deep and then arrive later in the box, but they also defended the box well.

“We had plenty of crosses with, but just couldn’t quite get the first contact. The middle was tough to play because it was so compact in there, so it was a game we kind of felt got better as we went along. We started getting the winners one-on-one, and they were dangerous.

“You go through games like that, we’re playing in the World Cup, you play against a decent side who are compact and make it difficult, and that’s what we come against today.”

Tuchel: I could see this coming

England manager Tuchel expected a tough challenge against a Ghana side that produced a last-gasp ⁠1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match.

It means that Carlos Queiroz’s side are one of just four teams yet to concede a goal at this summer’s tournament – along with Spain, Argentina and Morocco.

Speaking to the BBC, Tuchel said: “I’m not frustrated. I saw it coming as I knew this would be a difficult game. Ghana are physical and so committed. Full credit to them. They were difficult to break down.

“You need to be patient, but at the right moments be brave. We conceded only two dangerous chances.

“At the end of the half, we grew into it and found rhythm but, of course, fatigue crept in. I liked the attitude, but you need a bit of luck.

“We had enough shots and crosses and a big chance with Harry Kane. It is what it is.”

Then it was 20:30.

Finally, a little after 21:00 in Miami, in strode Carlo Ancelotti to address the hundreds of journalists waiting to hear his thoughts on Brazil’s World Cup meeting with Scotland on Wednesday.

Well, sort of. Questions relating to Scotland for Brazil coach Ancelotti were few and far between.

The Brazilian journalists wanted to know about Neymar, the country’s record goalscorer set to play in the famous yellow for the first time in almost three years.

They wanted to pick Ancelotti’s brain about Vinicius Jnr, the Real Madrid superstar who would seem to be their best hope of reproducing the kind of fireworks the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have been serving up at this World Cup.

They wanted insight on every aspect of Ancelotti’s project to turn this group of talented individuals into a team that can end Brazil’s 24-year wait for a World Cup.

Coincidentally, the last time they endured such a barren run, they ended it here in the United States, when Romario, Bebeto et al led the Samba Boys to victory at USA ’94.

The Brazilian media wanted to soak up every piece of information their legendary manager was willing to impart on his star-studded squad. Scotland was not high on the agenda.

The return of Neymar

Normally banging in the most goals – 79 to be precise – in the history of your national team is a sure-fire way to secure undying adulation among the country’s fans.

Yet Neymar is not universally loved in his homeland, and his selection ahead of Chelsea’s Joao Pedro in the World Cup squad sparked huge debate in Brazil.

He has not played for his country since October 2023 and missed out on the 1-1 draw with Morocco in the Group C opener through injury.

Ancelotti says the 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain striker is ready to make his long-awaited return against Scotland.

“He is available. He trained very well this week. He is fit and ready to play,” said Ancelotti.

“We are very happy. He is a high-quality player. He can play half-time or the whole 90 minutes. He’s very well, he worked very hard. So he is ready.

“His attitude is very good and he is in good spirits. He’s a good player, team-mate, he’s very serious and we want to put him back to play as soon as possible.

“He brings experience, knowledge and is doing very well.”

Vini the main man

It will be fascinating to see how much of the old magic Neymar can conjure, but you suspect if Brazil are to be a fixture at the business end of this tournament, it will be Vincius who will be the catalyst.

Two goals in two games, including a fabulous equaliser when Brazil were 1-0 down and struggling with the all-round excellence of Morocco, has prevented an underwhelming start to the tournament becoming something more concerning.

“He’s playing very well,” said Ancelotti, who managed the Brazilian star at Real Madrid before taking over the Selecao in 2025.

“We need to use him even though we have other fantastic players. We have experience, quality and legs. I’m completely satisfied [in] all of them.

“I have to put all the players to adapt to the style of the team.”

And therein lies the genius of Ancelotti – taking the big superstars and their bigger egos and making them work as a cohesive unit.

He is the most decorated manager in Champions League history with five trophies, and the only man to win titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues.

But leading Brazil to World Cup success would further elevate the Italian’s claim to be the greatest manager ever.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: A packed converted locker room at Miami stadium hosted a late-night press conference with the Brazil boss

It’s hard to imagine Ancelotti has had too many sleepless nights worrying about a Scotland team that have managed just two shots on target in two group games so far, but he has been around long enough to provide to show anything other than respect to his opponents.

And perhaps he noted how uncomfortable the Scots made life for Morocco in that last 15 minutes or so in Boston, even if they were not able to find a way through.

“Difficult game, as usual,” he said. “Scotland has quality, they are fighters, they play really well organised.

“They have really good players, good individuals in [Scott] McTominay, [John] McGinn, that are experienced players who are used to playing this type of game. It will be a very difficult game as usual. We are ready to play a difficult game.

“They are a strong team. They have a very clear strategy. Usually play 4-4-2, long balls. They will try and do a lot of crossing.

“We need to control the match in that sense.”

The Black Stars faced the Three Lions on Tuesday at Boston Stadium in their second Group L match of the tournament in North America.

After a tightly contested encounter, the game ended goalless, leaving both sides level on four points.

Speaking after the match, Sibo revealed that Queiroz sensed uncertainty in the England camp and urged his players to take advantage.

“At half-time, the coach told us that England were nervous and that we should push for a win,” Sibo, the Real Oviedo midfielder said after the game.

“And that’s what we tried to do, but we are happy with the draw,” the midfielder added.

Ghana’s positive approach after the interval changed the complexion of the game, with England appearing increasingly cautious as they sought to protect their position in the group.

The result leaves Ghana and England joint leaders of Group L heading into the final round of group-stage fixtures on Saturday.

England will take on Panama, while the Black Stars face Croatia, with both teams aiming to secure qualification to the knockout stages of the World Cup.

A law was brought in for the 2026 World Cup which says a player can be sent off if they hide their mouth when speaking to an opponent.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino requested it was introduced after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was given a six-match ban by Uefa for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game in February.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off for the offence against Turkey at the weekend when the video assistant referee (VAR) stepped in to advise a red card.

So why was Bellingham not shown a red card on a VAR review in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw in Boston?

The context is key. Covering the mouth has not been banned. Doing so in a confrontation with another player has.

Before the tournament Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, was quite clear.

“Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends,” Collina said.

“It’s normal to a chat before, during or after the match.

“So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem.

“When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.”

Why Almiron’s red card was different

Throughout almost every game at this World Cup you will find examples of players talking to each other while covering their mouth. Even referees have been doing it.

Importantly, there was no animosity between Bellingham and Ayew – it was merely two players chatting.

How did the Almiron red card differ?
What was happening in the match was important.

Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta had gone to ground claiming a bad challenge by Turkey’s Ismail Yuksek.

This led to a melee between the two sets of players. Close by, Almiron covered his mouth when talking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur.

Almiron and Muldur were not directly involved in the pushing and shoving, but the game was in a heated situation.

“This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule,” Infantino told SNTV on Tuesday following Almiron’s dismissal.

“It’s about respect. It’s about the example that we should give.

“If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak to somebody.

“The rules have been made very clear to everyone.”

There are questions about how reliable this law change is, however. There is the possibility that a player could use it to get an opponent sent off in a situation like this.

Almiron, for instance, did not appear to be acting aggressively, while Muldur immediately turned around to highlight it to an assistant referee.

Almiron has received a one-game ban and will miss Paraguay’s final group game against Australia, with both teams likely requiring a point to reach the last 32.

The ban could have been longer if there was evidence of abusive language.

The new law is an opt-in, whereby a competition can choose whether to implement it. So far, it is only being used at the World Cup.

The difficulty in being consistent with the law, and the potential for it to be abused, means it might not be adopted by the domestic leagues.

Bellingham had to be pulled away by team-mate Morgan Rogers as he engaged with the Ghana coach and his backroom staff.

It came shortly after a foul when Bellingham shoved Jerome Opoku and tensions spilled over after the referee had blown for half-time.

The fall-out continued as players and coaches walked across the field to the tunnel at Boston Stadium.

“It was an exchange of emotions, and Jude stood up for himself and his team,” said Tuchel.

“Emotions are a part of the game but we don’t want to get distracted with stuff that could distract us.”

No cards were shown in the aftermath and tensions appeared to have settled down by the time the second half resumed.

“He had a bad reaction with some bad names and that’s why the story started,” Queiroz said.

The draw keeps England top of Group L – and they are guaranteed to qualify for the last 32 if they avoid defeat against Panama on Saturday.

Bellingham, 22, became the youngest England player to reach 50 caps in Boston but was unable to help the Three Lions build on their opening 4-2 win over Croatia.

Ghana spent large periods sitting in a defensive shape and ultimately managed to keep Tuchel’s side at bay.

Bellingham, who was sent off for using foul and abusive language when playing for Real Madrid in February, was keen to play down the incident.

“It was just when I made a silly tackle, to be honest,” Bellingham said.

“I was trying to try to win the ball, and I followed through a little bit and caught the lad. I spoke to him after, and then their bench jumped up trying to get me a yellow card.

“I think their manager [Queiroz] I just recognised him. He’s obviously the one who used to be at Manchester United, so great respect, and nothing but a competitive edge for both of us.”

Bellingham’s place in England’s starting XI was far from certain before the World Cup began, with Tuchel saying he had to fight for his position.

The relationship between the pair has frequently come under scrutiny, with Tuchel describing Bellingham’s on-field behaviour during last June’s defeat by Senegal as “repulsive” – a remark Tuchel later apologised for.

In November, Tuchel said he would “review” Bellingham’s behaviour after his reaction to being substituted during a qualifier against Albania.

Bellingham started and scored against Croatia before being named player of the match in the draw with Ghana.

But after winning that award he told the BBC: “I didn’t deserve it, to be honest. It probably should’ve gone to one of their lads who defended so well.

“Had a couple of moments but couldn’t get in the game. I’m grateful to whoever voted.”

The incident in question happened late in Tuesday’s game as Prince Adu charged into the box before Ezri Konsa came across and appeared to bring down the midfielder.

No spot-kick was given – to the relief of England supporters, with replays showing Konsa had caught Adu on the knee and made no contact with the ball.

The BBC pundits watching the game were largely in agreement that Konsa and England were fortunate not to have been punished.

“I think that’s a penalty,” former Three Lions and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said on BBC One.

“Konsa takes a huge risk. His feet are off the floor when he comes flying in and he gets the man, not the ball.

“That could easily have been given in my view.”

Fellow former England international and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: “England were chasing the game, they were trying to score the goal but you still need that protection behind you.

“On another day, that could have been a penalty.”

Why did the VAR not intervene?

If the incident was a clear penalty as many of those watching believe, why was it not looked at by the video assistant referee?

In the Premier League that may well have happened – but at this World Cup VAR is being used a little differently.

Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, wants a higher threshold for challenges on the field and consistency of decision-making – if you let more tackles go on the field, you must have fewer VAR interventions.

That could be the reason why there appeared to be no VAR review of this specific incident.

Darren Cann, the 2010 World Cup final assistant referee, feels the wrong decision was made.

“As an England fan I am delighted that it wasn’t given,” he said on BBC One.

“But I have to be honest, for me this should have been referred…

“Konsa makes absolutely no contact at all with the ball, he brings down his opponent. He is airborne, he is out of control, he makes contact with the attacker. For me this was a penalty kick.”

The Three Lions faced the four-time African champions on Tuesday at Boston Stadium in their second Group L fixture.

Despite dominating possession for large spells of the contest, England were unable to break down a resilient Ghana defence and had to settle for a point.

Speaking after the match, the England national football team star praised Ghana for their disciplined display but expressed disappointment at England’s inability to secure victory.

“Very frustrating. It feels like I think in all the tournaments I’ve been to, it’s been the same, you know, decent performance to start and a good win. And then just the second one frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up, you know, credit to them,” he said.

The result leaves both England and Ghana level on four points at the top of Group L.

England will face Panama in their final group match on Saturday, while Ghana take on Croatia with qualification to the knockout stage still hanging in the balance.

Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the side that edged Panama 1-0 in their opening fixture, handing starts to Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare and Kwasi Sibo in a 4-3-3 setup.

Asare replaced Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, while the defensive quartet of Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku and Gideon Mensah retained their places.

England controlled much of the early possession through the midfield pairing of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, but Ghana remained compact and disciplined, with Partey, Sibo and Caleb Yirenkyi effectively disrupting the Three Lions’ rhythm.

The clearest opportunity of the opening half fell to Harry Kane in the 34th minute, but Asare produced an excellent save at close range to keep the scores level.

Ghana came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after the hour mark. Inaki Williams raced in behind John Stones and forced Jordan Pickford into a fine save, before Antoine Semenyo blazed the rebound over the crossbar.

Both managers introduced fresh legs in the closing stages as England pushed for a winner. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford tested Asare from distance, while Jordan Ayew and Semenyo threatened on the counterattack for Ghana.

However, neither side could find the decisive goal in front of a crowd of 65,878, with the contest ending in a tense 0-0 draw.

The result leaves both Ghana and England on four points in Group L heading into the final round of group matches. The Black Stars will now turn their attention to a crucial encounter against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 28.

Partey was booed by England fans as he made his first appearance at this year’s World Cup, having missed his nation’s first game at the tournament.

The 33-year-old was denied entry into Canada after telling officials he had never been arrested nor charged with a crime, and missed Ghana’s 1-0 win against Panama in Toronto as a result.

Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to stand trial next year.

BBC Sport understands the Football Association did not discuss the pre-match handshake with players before the match.

There were boos from the crowd at Boston Stadium as the Villarreal and former Arsenal midfielder’s name was read out over the public address system before the Group L match, while his touches of the ball were regularly met with jeers.

Partey said before Tuesday’s match he felt “ready to play” against England.

In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said last week: “The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr Partey.

“However, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa.”

The Portuguese tactician has made four changes to the side that edged Panama 1-0 in their opening match of the tournament, with Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare and Kwasi Sibo all returning to the starting XI.

Queiroz has maintained his preferred 4-3-3 system, handing Partey an immediate return to the lineup after the midfielder missed Ghana’s opening victory.

The former Arsenal star will anchor the midfield alongside Kwasi Sibo and Caleb Yirenkyi.

In attack, Inaki Williams is handed his first start of the tournament, replacing Ernest Nuamah.

The Athletic Bilbao forward will partner Antoine Semenyo and captain Jordan Ayew in a three-man frontline as Ghana seek a second successive win.

Benjamin Asare takes over in goal from Lawrence Ati-Zigi, while Queiroz has retained the defensive quartet that kept a clean sheet against Panama.

Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku and Gideon Mensah will once again line up across the back.

Ghana Starting XI vs England: Benjamin Asare; Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah; Kwasi Sibo, Thomas Partey, Caleb Yirenkyi; Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew (captain).

Victory for either side will guarantee qualification to the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 41-year-old made history when he opened the scoring in the sixth minute, sweeping in a low half-volley at the near post from Joao Cancelo’s cross from the right.

Ronaldo’s strike also meant he became the second-oldest man to score at a World Cup, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 when he found the net against Russia in 1994.

Portugal were criticised following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening game of the tournament, but they stepped up in style against the World Cup debutants.

They doubled their lead in the 17th minute in Houston with Nuno Mendes scoring directly with a low free-kick from 20 yards out.

Uzbekistan thought they had a wonderful reply as Aziz G’aniev spectacularly shot into the net, but the effort was ruled out because Abbosbek Fayzullaev had fouled Cancelo.

Ronaldo got his second and Portugal’s third in the 39th minute when Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes gained possession in the centre circle and slid a pass through to him, with the Portugal captain slipping a precise finish into the bottom corner.

Goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov scored an own goal when Uzbekistan failed to deal with a corner, with the ball bouncing off him last for Portugal’s fourth, before substitute Rafael Leao smashed in a late fifth to seal the rout.

The three points took Portugal top of Group K, although Colombia will move above them if they beat DR Congo later on Wednesday (03:00 BST), while Uzbekistan remain without a point after two games.

On Monday, Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the top scorer in World Cup history with a double against Austria to take his total to 18. However, Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has only scored at five of the six tournaments he has played in, failing to register in 2010.

Ronaldo has now struck 10 times, having scored once at the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022 finals and four times in 2018, including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Spain.

Semenyo was instrumental in Ghana’s opening Group L fixture against Panama, producing a standout performance that earned him the Man of the Match award as the Black Stars secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show ahead of Ghana’s second group game against England at Gillette Stadium, Essien insisted the Three Lions would be particularly wary of the in-form forward.

“England will be more worried about Antoine Semenyo,” Essien, who played at the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, said.

The former Chelsea star, who is currently serving as assistant coach of FC Nordsjælland, also praised Semenyo for adapting quickly following his move.

According to Essien, the forward’s seamless integration into his new environment has been one of the biggest surprises of his development.

“His journey has been very good so far. But what surprises me a little bit is that when players switch in January, it usually takes them a while to adjust to teammates and the system, but he looks like he’s already been there,” he added.

Kick-off for the highly anticipated Group L encounter is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana seeking a positive result to strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout stage ahead of their final group fixture in Philadelphia on June 27.

A strong performance against England would move the four-time African champions closer to a first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

The four-time African champions head into their second Group L fixture with momentum after opening their 2026 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama, while England also arrive in strong form following a 4-2 win against Croatia. Both sides are level on points and pushing for early qualification to the round of 32.

Ayew said his focus as skipper is to protect younger teammates from pressure while ensuring standards remain high across the squad.

“I’m doing my best to guide the boys and to make them feel as comfortable as they can. To take the pressure off them and to do my best for us to perform on the pitch,” Ayew said.

“That’s all I do. I’m being myself, and I have to perform as well. They have to perform as well. It’s teamwork. We’re helping each other to perform,” Ayew added.

Ghana currently sit second in the group standings after their narrow opening win in Toronto, setting up a pivotal clash in Foxborough against an England side widely expected to challenge deep into the tournament.

Ayew stressed the need for discipline and collective effort, outlining a simple message within the camp.

“That we’re going to give our 100% and that we’re going to fight,” he said.

“I will make sure when we come out of this game, we’ll have no regrets,” he concluded.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana eyeing a result that could significantly strengthen their position in Group L ahead of their final group-stage match in Philadelphia on June 27.

A positive outcome would also edge the Black Stars closer to a long-awaited return to the knockout stages, a feat last achieved in 2010.

The experienced Carlos Queiroz was drafted in to take charge for his fifth successive World Cup following stints with Portugal and Iran.

He will have been delighted with his team’s start, a last-gasp victory over Panama raising hopes of a first appearance in the knockout stage since their famous run to the quarter-finals in 2010.

BBC Sport takes a look at five key players England need to watch out for.

Antoine Semenyo

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Antoine Semenyo has yet to replicate his goalscoring form at club level with Ghana

Club: Manchester City Age: 26 Position: Winger Caps: 35 Goals: 3

When talking about this Ghana squad it would be remiss not to start with their star man, Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo.

He arrived at the World Cup fresh from finishing third in the Premier League’s Golden Boot standings for 2025-26 after scoring 17 goals across spells at Bournemouth and Manchester City.

He fitted in seamlessly at Etihad Stadium after his £65m January move and helped the club win two trophies, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final.

Genuinely two footed, over the past two Premier League campaigns he has had 103 shots with his left foot and 95 with his right, and played equal minutes across both wings.

It’s therefore a real anomaly that he has only scored three goals in 35 internationals for Ghana, and just one in his past 28 caps.

​​​​​​​Caleb Yirenkyi

Image caption: Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi was a national robot-building champion in his early teens

Club: Nordsjaelland Age: 20 Position: Midfielder Caps: 12 Goals: 2

One of Europe’s sought-after young midfielders, Yirenkyi added to his valuation when he scored a 94th-minute winner in Ghana’s opening match against Panama.

Former Black Stars coach Addo used the box-to-box midfielder out of position at right-back, but new boss Queiroz has restored the 20-year-old to the position in which he has excelled at club level.

Among midfielders in the Danish top flight in 2025-26, Yirenkyi led the way for possession won in the opposition’s final third (26) and ball recoveries (205), while he ranked third across all players for successful passes in the opposition half (881).

A keen student as a child, he won Ghana’s 2019 National RiSE Robotics Championship aged 13.

Jordan Ayew

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jordan Ayew (centre) has played for Aston Villa, Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Leicester City

Club: Unattached Age: 34 Position: Forward/Attacking midfielder Caps: 121 Goals: 34

Ayew became Ghana’s record cap holder in their opening match against Panama, overtaking the previous mark of 120 set by his brother Andre.

When Jordan was made captain in 2025 he said it was “written in the stars,” as he joined both his legendary father Abedi Pele and his brother in having led the Black Stars.

Chasing his first World Cup goal at his third tournament, Ayew, 34, has scored 14 times in his past 22 caps – including a hat-trick in qualifying against Central African Republic.

He actually scored more goals in qualifying for this World Cup (seven in 10) than he did for Leicester City in 2025-26 (six in 45). The Foxes released him after being relegated for the second successive season.

Brandon Thomas-Asante

Image caption: Brandon Thomas-Asante (number 10) showed off his dance moves after Ghana’s win over Panama

Club: Coventry City Age: 27 Position: Forward Caps: 9 Goals: 1

The versatile forward, who can play anywhere along the frontline, forced his way into Ghana’s World Cup squad after an impressive season at Coventry.

He scored 13 goals in their Championship title-winning campaign, behind only Haji Wright among his team-mates.

Born in Milton Keynes, Thomas-Asante came through their academy and played for the likes of Ebbsfleet, Oxford City and Salford City before moving to the Championship with West Brom and then the Sky Blues.

He made an immediate impact in Ghana’s opening game against Panama, coming off the bench to set up Caleb Yirenkyi’s winner.

He is renowned for his dance moves and used to perform in a street dance group. His initiation dance in front of the Ghana squad went viral.

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Kamaldeen Sulemana scored his first goals for Southampton in a 4-4 draw against Liverpool

Club: Atalanta Age: 24 Position: Winger Caps 29 Goals: 1

Sulemana was officially the fastest player at the Qatar World Cup after being clocked at 22.2mph. His former Southampton team-mate and renowned speed merchant Theo Walcott described him as the quickest player he ever played with.

The left winger, who can also play as a centre-forward or playmaker, is known for his dribbling skills.

But question marks have been raised about his end product. He last scored for club side Atalanta in February, and has only netted once in 29 caps for Ghana.

He swapped the Championship for the Champions League when he left Southampton last summer to move to Italy.

The three-minute pauses were introduced for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico to allow players to take on fluids during extreme temperatures.

They have been far from popular with some players, pundits and fans though, with some stating they have been introduced to allow for extra advert breaks.

But FIFA will consider keeping them for future tournaments, with Infantino insisting the breaks have increased the quality on show.

”Maybe the coach can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes,” he said.

“The players get a little rest and come back in full speed. Well, is that bad, necessarily? Maybe it’s good.

”And we see as well the intensity of the games. We’ve never seen 90 minutes in a tournament like this played in such an intensity.

”Until the last second of the match, players attack and so on.

“And maybe, maybe not, but maybe it’s also a bit thanks to this little break that the players have, and after they can go back on the field and show what they can do.”

Infantino’s claims that hydration breaks have been for the good of the game have been countered by high-profile figures.

Speaking at the weekend, Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa said that pause “adds nothing and takes away a lot”.

They have not gone down well with England manager Thomas Tuchel either.

Speaking ahead of the Three Lions’ clash with Ghana, he said: “I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought.

“I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter.

“They were shorter, and they were just in a few matches. In the interests of fairness here, it is now done in every match for every team.

“It breaks the match almost in four quarters. And I think it changes the characteristic of the match more than I thought.”

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk added: “I think for the neutral watchers on TV it’s also not great.”

And USA manager Mauricio Pochettino stated that hydration breaks should only be used “when the conditions are extreme”.

There have been numerous occasions when temperatures have been more than manageable, but a three-minute interval has still been enforced.

Infantino stated that it was down to fairness.

”If we were to use hydration breaks only in those matches where it was too hot and not in the other matches, we would give an advantage or a disadvantage to some of the coaches or some of the teams,” he added.

”Why would the coach have the opportunity to influence the game in one match just because it’s hot and in another match where it’s a bit less hot, he wouldn’t have this opportunity?”

France manager, Didier Deschamps also weighed into the debate: “These breaks for three minutes, you can get the players close to you, and this gives you an opportunity to adjust a couple of things as regards the 22-23 minutes of game that just took place.

“With the high temperatures, it’s important to be able to give this extra opportunity, two opportunities to the head coach. It’s a good thing – this is a fact, but it leads us to split the game and if you’re in a strong position, after this break, you must start playing again. But we adapt to it, even in our prep work, we’ve anticipated.”

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said: “For me, it’s a coaching break more than a cooling break, so to me it’s very important. For me, it’s a very good thing. So, for example, the weather can be hot, and maybe this hydration break will always be important.”

Trump, 80, is yet to attend a game at the World Cup, but may still make an appearance before the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The World Cup started on 11 June and takes place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino, now a close friend of Trump, told Fox.

Asked if they would make the presentation together, Infantino added: “Of course, we are together all the time.”

The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches at the tournament, which is also being held in Mexico and Canada.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, told the Telegraph that Trump likes to “leave people watching” and is yet to attend a game because of his busy schedule.

Trump was at the UFC White House event last week, and was recently booed in New York as he became the first US president to attend the NBA Finals, watching game three which the eventual champions the New York Knicks lost 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs.

Last summer, Trump remained on the winners’ podium at MetLife Stadium after handing the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James, which caused apparent confusion to some of the players involved.

“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” said James.

Iran will be allowed to travel to Seattle two days before their final group-stage match against Egypt – giving them an extra day beyond the 24-hour window they’d been granted for their first two games.

But the team will still be required to return to its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, after the match.

“For the Iranian team’s third match in Seattle on 26 June, the team has been permitted to come into the US two days before the match. The Iran team will still be required to leave the day the match ends,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

“The overall security measures and protocol are the same. We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff and fans alike.”

This change comes after the Iranian Football Federation said it planned to lodge an official complaint with Fifa over what it described as unfair treatment in the United States.

So far, Iran’s squad has only been allowed to enter the United States the day before a match and leave again on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas.

That prompted Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei to describe his side as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament. He said the squad had been “robbed” of preparation time and given “less than half” the training window it needed, while other teams had enjoyed normal conditions.

Last week, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, said discussions were under way about changing the arrangements for Iran’s third group-stage match in Seattle against Egypt on Friday 26 June. (Sat 27 June 04:00 BST)

Iran is based in Mexico for the tournament, and Giuliani said it was reasonable for the team to operate under tighter travel restrictions for its first two matches in Los Angeles, given the short flight from Tijuana. But with the journey to Seattle taking up to three hours, he said officials were considering adjustments.

Ghalenoei has repeatedly argued that Iran should be allowed to arrive in each host city two days before a match and return to base the day after, “in order to achieve optimal technical and physical preparation”.

At a press conference before Iran’s second match, he said the team had faced “many challenges off the pitch” and that “this kind of behaviour is not suitable for the World Cup”. He also said the restrictions were inconsistent with football’s values, adding: “We are here for football, not politics.”

“The Football Federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes,” the federation told the BBC.

The four-time African champions meet the European heavyweights at Gillette Stadium, with both teams entering the clash level on three points after opening victories in the competition.

Queiroz, speaking ahead of the high-profile encounter, described the match as one designed for spectacle on the global stage.

“Trust me, huge entertainment on the pitch. Huge entertainment,” Queiroz said.

“That’s our job—to create entertainment. We belong to the entertainment business. This is our duty and obligation on behalf of Ghana to create entertainment,” he added.

He noted that England would also approach the game with similar ambition.

“The English team is going to do the same. We’re going to fight, we’re going to play, we’re going to enjoy,” he said.

The Portuguese coach went on to express confidence that the fixture would leave a lasting impression on supporters.

“It will be a wonderful game. I guarantee there will be memories and emotions in people’s hearts after the game is over.”

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana aiming for a positive result that would strengthen their position in Group L ahead of their final group match on June 27 in Philadelphia.

A strong outcome would also boost their bid to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010.

The 73-year-old Portuguese is at his fifth World Cup – and his first with Ghana – having taken charge in April in what is his ninth role as a national team manager.

The former Real Madrid boss and Manchester United assistant led Iran at the past three World Cups, suffering a 6-2 hammering by England in the group stage of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

“In football, four years is like a century, so I don’t even remember where that was,” said Queiroz.

“I was not defeated. In football, we never lose. We win, or we learn. We learned a couple of lessons that day.”

After opening their campaign in North America with a 1-0 win over Panama, Queiroz can guide Ghana into the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time since 2010 with victory over England in Boston on Tuesday.

“It’s another game. All games are different; it’s a different team on the pitch and a different environment,” he said.

“The reputations and prestige of results in the past are significant when they are written in the press, but they cannot win games. Memories don’t win games, so tomorrow will be another story.”

England made a strong start in Group L with an eye-catching 4-2 win over Croatia, although they showed signs of vulnerability in defence.

They are unbeaten in eight previous matches against African opposition at the World Cup, but will be facing Ghana in a competitive fixture for the first time.

“This is the easiest type of match, because when you’re about to play against England, France or Germany, you don’t need to say anything to the players. They’re fully motivated,” said Queiroz.

“Everybody is fully switched on, and everybody wants to perform well.

“What we have to do in this type of game is to try to moderate the enthusiasm, but mainly we need to work together. This is the most important thing tomorrow. Whatever happens, we need to stick together and fight together over 90 full minutes.”

“We know they have the three lions on their shirt, but we come from Ghana and have 33 million lions… to fight for this game,” he added.

Queiroz is expected to recall Thomas Partey in midfield after he was denied a visa by Canadian authorities for the opening game in Toronto.

The Villarreal player is facing trial on rape charges in Britain but denies the allegations.

Queiroz also said a late decision would be made on goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who was forced off through injury in the win over Panama.

The Black Stars and the Three Lions, both victorious in their opening matches, will face off at Gillette Stadium tonight in a game that could prove decisive in the race for a place in the knockout stage.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Queiroz acknowledged England’s quality, particularly the experience and intensity of their Premier League stars, but insisted Ghana have devised a strategy to neutralise their strengths.

“We know how England play. They have excellent players, they have the experience of their Premier League. They have intensity, but we know how we can control this,” Queiroz said.

He also delivered a passionate message to rally Ghanaians ahead of the encounter, stressing the strong support behind the national team.

“We know they have three lions, but we have 33 million lions,” he said.

The match rekindles memories of Queiroz’s previous encounter against England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when his Iran side suffered a 6-2 defeat in the group stage.

However, the experienced coach insists that setback served as a valuable lesson rather than a failure.

“I was not defeated. In football, we never lose. We win or we learn. We learned a couple of lessons that day,” he said.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with a positive result potentially putting Ghana in a strong position in Group L ahead of their final group fixture on June 27 in Philadelphia.

The Black Stars are chasing a return to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals in 2010 in South Africa.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT in a fixture that pits England’s early tournament momentum against a Ghana side growing in confidence after a narrow but crucial opening win.

England began their campaign with a dramatic 4–2 victory over Croatia, a result that underlined their attacking firepower while exposing defensive inconsistencies.

The match also marked a statistical high point, with the Three Lions producing a record number of shots inside the box in a World Cup fixture as they overwhelmed the 2018 finalists in spells.

That result ended a long winless run for England against top-ranked opposition at the World Cup and reinforced their status among the tournament favourites, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford all playing decisive roles in a performance built on relentless attacking intent.

A second consecutive victory on Tuesday would put Thomas Tuchel’s side on the brink of qualification and extend a winning streak that has gathered momentum across all competitions.

Ghana, meanwhile, arrive in Boston after a hard-fought 1–0 win over Panama, sealed deep into stoppage time by youngster Caleb Yirenkyi following a disciplined defensive display.

It was a result that ended a brief run of inconsistent form and gave the Black Stars a platform in Group L, with the possibility of reaching the knockout phase for the first time since 2010 now firmly in sight.

Carlos Queiroz’s side have leaned on structure and patience, operating largely from a compact 4-2-3-1 system that prioritises balance in midfield and pace in transition.

However, questions remain over their attacking output, having struggled for goals in recent matches aside from a heavy qualification win over Comoros.

Team selection remains a key talking point for both camps. England are expected to welcome back Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice after fitness concerns, while Ghana continue to assess the condition of goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi, with Benjamin Asare in line to start.

There is also uncertainty around Ghana’s midfield setup following the off-field situation involving Thomas Partey, though the experienced midfielder is expected to be available.

Both sides enter the contest with identical objectives: win and qualify early, then manage the final group match with control.

England will look to impose their attacking rhythm, while Ghana’s hopes rest on defensive discipline and opportunistic finishing.

The only previous meeting between the nations ended in a 1–1 draw in 2011, a reminder that Ghana have historically been capable of frustrating the Three Lions on the international stage.

Prediction: England 2–0 Ghana.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, where Ghana will look to build on their strong start to the group campaign.

Partey indicated he is now fully fit and eager to contribute as the Black Stars aim to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.

He said the squad remains in high spirits following their win over Panama and is focused on delivering another strong performance against one of the tournament’s most formidable sides.

While acknowledging England’s depth and quality, the midfielder stressed that Ghana are approaching the game with belief and unity, determined to compete at the highest level and continue earning respect on the global stage.

“For me, now I feel okay. I’m ready to play,” Partey said, underlining the team’s emphasis on collective effort over individual matchups, including the anticipated midfield battle with England’s Declan Rice.

He also highlighted the positive atmosphere within the camp, adding that the players are embracing the tournament experience while staying focused on performance and national pride.

Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana aware that a positive result could significantly boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Carlos Queiroz’s side will wrap up their Group L fixtures against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia, as they continue their push for a first World Cup knockout appearance since 2010.