Harry Kane (9) and Jude Bellingham (10) during England's 0-0 draw with Ghana in their second group L match of the 2026 World Cup at Boston, US on 23/6. *AP*.

England began the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. However, Thomas Tuchel's side could not overcome a resilient Ghana team at Boston.

The Three Lions had 19 shots, with three on target. Their most notable chance came in the 89th minute when Nico O’Reilly's header hit the crossbar, followed by Harry Kane's rebound shot going over the bar. Bellingham was substituted in the 73rd minute but FIFA still named him "man of the match". The 2003-born midfielder expressed his dissatisfaction with the award.

"Honestly, I do not deserve this award", Bellingham told BBC Sport. "Perhaps it should have gone to a Ghana player. They defended extremely well and deserve recognition".

Indeed, most rating sites gave Bellingham average scores, while Marc Guehi was rated highest for England. Ghana's Thomas Partey and defender Jerome Opoku also received high ratings.

Bellingham suggested that Ghana adopted a defensive approach aimed at securing a draw against England, having already defeated Panama in their opening match. With four points, the African representative has a strong chance of advancing, even if they lose to Croatia in their final match and drop to third place.

The Real midfielder also became the center of a heated debate. At the end of the first half, he had a fierce argument with Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz and assistant John Paintsil, regarding a foul on Opoku. Speaking to Mail Sports, lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling suggested that all three individuals used swearing.

"I wanted Bellingham to calm down. He kicked my player's leg", Queiroz told ITV. "He swore, which heightened the tension. That's football. It's not a dance in a pub with fancy suits".

The England midfielder admitted it was a silly tackle but stated he was only trying to win the ball. Bellingham explained: "After the collision, I spoke with Opoku, then people in Ghana's technical area jumped up demanding a yellow card for me. I recognized their coach because he used to work at Man Utd, so I have a lot of respect for him. We both have a highly competitive spirit".

Carlos Queiroz began his career at Old Trafford in 2002, before moving to manage Real. He returned to Man Utd from 7/2004 to 7/2008. Subsequently, the 73-year-old coach managed various national teams, including Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, Qatar, and Oman, before joining Ghana.

By Trung Thu