Thomas Tuchel explains what England lacked in Ghana draw as tactics assessed | OneFootball

Three Lions were unable to break down stubborn Black Stars

Thomas Tuchel felt England were unfortunate not to get the better of Ghana on Tuesday night, but admitted his side lacked clinicality.

The Three Lions were confounded by the Black Stars’ stubborn low block as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw in their second group stage match.

They finished the first half without a shot on target but enjoyed several chances after the break, with Harry Kane firing over the bar from close range at the death.

Work to do: Thomas Tuchel

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“This will not be the first football match where one team struggles to break a block down. You need the first goal, a bit more determination maybe, shots from around the box.”

Pressed as to whether England lacked creativity, though, Tuchel pushed back, pointing out the match would be remembered differently had one of his side’s late chances had been buried.

He continued: “It is difficult. We tried with three players on the side, and then you need to have the switch of play.

“The conditions looked good, but the grass was very long, it was difficult to play.

“We pushed with the substitutions, got new energy, they got more tired. The gaps opened up a bit more and gave us more half-chances, and for sure the biggest chance of the match, with Nico O’Reilly and Harry (Kane).

“It is always like this if you tell the story from behind. If we score this goal everyone says ‘oh, they were so patient, they didn’t concede, they never lost faith’. And if you don’t score, it is a lack of imagination. It is what it is.

“They were even more defensive here than in the first match. If you don’t open the match up with a goal it is tough. It is difficult to inject intensity with such a low block.

Of Kane’s chance, Tuchel added: “If you want that chance to drop to anybody it should be Harry. It is normally a clear goal for us. It is a big chance.”