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England and Ghana Players Rated After World Cup 2026 Goalless Draw

England struggled to secure a win against Ghana in their Group L match, finishing with a scoreless draw in Boston on Tuesday. The result leaves England in a decent spot to advance but without confirming their place in the knockout stage just yet.

BBC Sport's Alex Howell shared his assessment of each player's performance, while fans submitted their own ratings as well.

Starting Lineup Evaluations

  • Jordan Pickford: Had little to do throughout the match, facing no shots that required a save. His involvement was limited as England tried to break down Ghana's defense. Rating: 5
  • Reece James: Frequently pushed into midfield during build-ups. Connected well with Noni Madueke and delivered one notable cross that attackers couldn’t convert. Rating: 6
  • Marc Guehi: Replaced John Stones and maintained composure on the ball. Played a key forward pass leading to a Kane shot. Rating: 6
  • Ezri Konsa: Reliable defensively and helped transition play, though narrowly avoided conceding a penalty late on. Rating: 5
  • Djed Spence: Made his tournament debut as a starter and defended solidly, including a crucial block stopping a Ghana chance. Involved in creating a promising attack later on. Rating: 6
  • Declan Rice: Took set-piece duties with mixed results. Tried to create chances but was often hindered by Ghana’s deep defensive setup. Delivered dangerous corners towards the end. Rating: 6
  • Elliot Anderson: Focused on breaking up plays and keeping possession simple, passing off to more attacking players but didn’t influence the game significantly. Rating: 5
  • Anthony Gordon: Marked tightly by Ghana’s right-back Marvin Senaya, limiting his impact despite efforts to spark attacks. Rating: 5
  • Jude Bellingham: England’s usual creative force was stifled by Ghana’s low block and had few moments to shine before being substituted. Rating: 6
  • Noni Madueke: Stayed wide and high, often trying to take on defenders. Developed a good connection with James and switched flanks after halftime, delivering a threatening cross. Rating: 6
  • Harry Kane: Quiet for most of the match due to limited space and opportunities. Missed a close-range chance late when he hit the crossbar. Rating: 5

Substitute Performances

  • Bukayo Saka (65 mins): Replaced Gordon, brought urgency to the attack, forced a save from Ghana’s keeper and headed a chance over. Rating: 6
  • Nico O'Reilly (66 mins): Came on for Spence, balanced out the left-back position naturally. Hit the crossbar late with a header that should have been a goal. Rating: 6
  • Morgan Rogers (73 mins): Energetic but found it difficult to find space in midfield. Rating: 6
  • Eberechi Eze (74 mins): Aimed to break through Ghana’s defense but lost possession late, nearly sparking a counterattack. Rating: 5
  • Marcus Rashford (83 mins): Had some bright moments but entered too late to make a major impact. Rating: 6

Match Summary

The match ended without goals, showing England’s struggle to break down a disciplined Ghana side. Despite the lack of scoring, some players like Declan Rice stood out and earned the highest average rating, becoming the player of the match according to BBC Sport users.

Ghana’s players also received user ratings, with their top marks going to Andre Semenyo and Marvin Senaya. The full list reflects how both teams performed across the pitch.

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