Ghana are the most boring team at this World Cup | OneFootball

Those Ghanian fans celebrating at the end of the 0-0 draw with England like they’d won the World Cup must be easily pleased.

When all the plaudits are handed out at the end of this competition there can surely be no more worthy winner of “Most Boring Team” than Ghana.

They have some serious talent in their 2026 team – somewhat belying their 63rd FIFA ranking. Yet they play like they’re an amateur Sunday morning side suddenly thrust onto the global stage and their only thought is to save face.

Negative approach

In the first group game Ghana approached Panama, who are 42nd in the world and only a handful of wins above them, like they were world champions. They conceded two thirds of the possession, had fewer shots and parked the bus. Yes, they won thanks to a 95th minute breakaway, but let no-one tell you they deserved it.

Against England, that defensive outlook have seemed more palatable. They managed 22% possession, completed 168 passes to England’s 619 and had 2 shots compared to England’s 19. They were comprehensively outplayed but they didn’t need to be.

Their miserable two shots were the joint-lowest of any side so far at the World Cup.

Yes, I’ve heard all the arguments. They won’t care. If they tried to play more attacking football they would lose (not necessarily true). They are going to qualify for the next round. It was a tactical masterclass. Job done regardless of how. Fine. All good. I agree with it all.

Anti-football

But in this festival of football – and it really has been a festival so far, one of the best World Cups for a while – they stand out as the anti-football team. They are to football what FIFA is to supporter fairness.

Other teams are going for it, trying to entertain, appreciative of the game should be about. Not Ghana though.

They will no doubt take the same approach to the Croatia game and from the first whistle put 11 men behind the ball and hope for a 0-0 or to nick one on the break. The poor supporters who paid hundreds of dollars for tickets in the vain hope for entertainment will be asleep by half time, just as we were yesterday.

Good players

This isn’t sour grapes – it’s pointing at a frustration that they have some really good players. They’re not Cape Verde. They’re not Curaçao. They have arguably the best winger in the Premier League in Antoine Semenyo. Thomas Partey is not long away from the Premier League at Arsenal. In Sanaya they have an excellent defender with real pace. Jordan Ayew was playing in the Premier League not long ago while Brandon Thomas-Asante will play in it this season. Caleb Yirenkyi is one of Europe’s most sought after youngsters.

They don’t have to play like this. They don’t have to assume that if they try to play progressive football they will lose. You never know, they might surprise a few people (and themselves).

Maybe it’s because coach Carlos Queiroz has only just taken the reins and taking a safety-first approach as he gets to grips with his team. Let’s hope so. But I doubt it. It’s his way.

Same old England

That said, England had plenty of opportunities and a couple of clear cut chances. Yet it was the same old story – win the first game, get everyone excited then draw the second for the fourth World cup in a row.

Slow, ponderous build up, no attacking flair down the flanks and no-one taking a risk from outside the area led to a toothless display. Sideways, sideways, back, sideways again.

They had 78.8% possession of the ball. For context this is the highest possession rates they have ever had. And it’s also the most by any side who failed to score in a match in the competition since 1966. When England won it. Yet you can’t even say they deserved to win.

Flank flops

Anthony Gordon benefited from a not-quite-fit Marcus Rashford to keep his place in the starting line up but did nothing to claim the shirt. On the other flank Noni Madueke was similarly toothless. Kane barely touched it, Bellingham was frustrated by Partey and England generally were too slow in moving the ball, allowing the Ghana Megabus its 11-man shape for nearly all the game.

It was only when Bukayo Saka and Rashford came on that England woke up. Saka forced Benjamin Asare into a smart save low to his right, fellow sub Nico O’Reilly crashed a header off the bar, which led to the game’s seminal moment. The rebound fell to Harry Kane, eight yards out with the goal gaping. His shot inexplicably sailed high over the bar.

England lucky

At the other end Pickford must be worried about his place. He looks a bag of nerves and got away with a potential card – probably yellow but possibly red; the same said for Ezri Konsa. The pair benefited from the game’s two big decisions from the highly erratic Honduran referee Said Martinez. It could have been so much worse.

Panama are bound to play the same way against England on Saturday. The Three Lions must learn to shoot from outside the area when there are 11 players between them and the goal and take risks when the opposition is drawn out. They did neither against Ghana.