International media savage England after Tuchel's side held by Ghana at World Cup 2026

England failed to build on their opening 4-2 win over Croatia as Thomas Tuchel’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana at the Boston Stadium on Tuesday, prompting a wave of critical coverage from international media questioning the Three Lions’ title credentials.

Carlos Queiroz’s Ghana were disciplined and compact from the first whistle, and it took England almost an hour to register a single shot on target. Harry Kane squandered a late chance, and the game ended in a lifeless stalemate that left England top of Group L but short on conviction.

German publication Der Spiegel was particularly cutting, headlining its match report: “Old England is back.” The piece drew a direct line to Tuchel’s more conservative spells at Bayern Munich, adding that the result “was more in line with his predecessor, Gareth Southgate, whose team never scored more than two goals in any match at Euro 2024, yet still managed to reach the final.” Der Spiegel also warned that goodwill from the Croatia win could evaporate quickly, noting that even reaching the final would not be considered a success unless England lift the trophy.

Spanish outlet AS was equally unsparing, singling out Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Kane for criticism. “A point apiece in a lacklustre match where Bellingham, Gordon and Kane couldn’t offer much,” the report read. “Tuchel’s revolution was extinguished by the African heat. Dominance without goals is nothing.”

AS described Bellingham — who had been England’s standout player in the Croatia victory — as “disconnected” and noted that he “continued to wander aimlessly around the pitch” before being substituted by Morgan Rogers midway through the second half. “The ghosts of the past reappeared,” the publication concluded.

England remain in a strong position to advance from Group L, and qualification for the knockout rounds appears a formality. But the manner of the Ghana draw has reignited familiar doubts about whether Tuchel’s side can translate possession and pressure into goals when it matters most — the very question that defined and ultimately doomed the Southgate years.