England's Toothless Draw With Ghana Raises Serious Questions

There were moments during England's 0-0 draw with Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Boston when it felt as though the tournament might be passing this England side by. For all the expectation that surrounds them, they were unable to find a way through against a Ghana outfit who defended with discipline and punished England's lack of creativity.

The draw is not a catastrophic result in isolation, but it is the manner of the performance that will trouble the coaching staff most. England carved out no sustained periods of dominance and looked blunt in the final third, raising genuine concerns about whether the current attacking selections are working as intended.

Portugal, by contrast, offered a masterclass in how to impose yourself on a World Cup group stage. Their 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Houston was a statement of intent, and it sets a benchmark that England, should they meet them further down the line, would need to dramatically improve upon to match.

For England, the work begins now. A draw leaves them with points on the board but with a mounting sense that this squad has not yet found its best form. The next match will demand more, and if the same attacking limitations are on show, the scrutiny will only grow louder.