SHABAB CHOWDHURY

“Hey Jude, don’t make it bad; take a sad song and make it better.”

Paul McCartney’s iconic Hey Jude remains one of the great anthems of comfort and encouragement. At its heart lies a simple message: move forward, overcome disappointment, and turn a negative into a positive.

That is exactly the song England need after their frustrating goalless draw against Ghana in Group L of the FIFA World Cup in Boston yesterday.

Yes, it was disappointing. Yes, it was frustrating. But from an English perspective, there is little reason for alarm.

Despite the inevitable scrutiny that follows England wherever they go, this is far from a crisis. Credit must instead go to a Ghana side that arrived with a plan, committed fully to it, and executed it brilliantly.

Carlos Queiroz’s men defended with discipline, intensity and conviction. England’s attacking display in the 4-2 win over Croatia had fuelled expectations of another comfortable evening for Thomas Tuchel’s side, but sometimes football demands appreciation for the team pulling off a defensive masterclass for the desired result.

England remain top of Group L after two games and are still masters of their own fate. A win over Panama in their final match guarantees a place in the knockout rounds and will almost certainly secure top spot. England beat Panama 6-1 in their only previous meeting at the 2018 World Cup. There is not much to worry about.

Anyone concerned by the stalemate should remember England have topped their group in each of the last three major tournaments despite stumbling in their second group game. Following yesterday’s draw, England have now failed to win their second match at each of the last four major tournaments.

This result follows 0-0 draws against Scotland at Euro 2020 and the United States at the 2022 World Cup, as well as a 1-1 draw with Denmark at Euro 2024. Across those four matches, England have produced 48 shots, averaged 61 percent possession, generated 4.14 expected goals (xG), and scored only once.

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