Ghana strengthened their chances of reaching the Round of 32 after securing a hard-fought goalless draw against England at the Boston Stadium, although the result was overshadowed by controversy surrounding several key officiating decisions.
The Black Stars earned a valuable point in one of the tournament’s most competitive groups, moving to four points and placing themselves in a strong position ahead of their final group match against Croatia.
However, Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz was left frustrated after the match, questioning the effectiveness of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following what he believed were clear decisions that went against his side.
The Portuguese tactician argued that Ghana should have been awarded a penalty in the second half when forward Prince Kwabena Adu was brought down inside the penalty area by England defender Ezri Konsa.
Queiroz expressed disbelief that the incident was not reviewed in Ghana’s favour, suggesting that the VAR system had failed to intervene despite what he considered a clear infringement.
He also pointed to another controversial moment involving a Ghanaian counterattack, claiming that England’s goalkeeper should have been shown a red card following a challenge on Adu.
Despite his disappointment with the officiating, the Ghana coach acknowledged that the overall outcome reflected the balance of play between the two sides.
According to Queiroz, both teams created opportunities and displayed different strengths throughout the encounter, making the draw a fair reflection of the contest.
He praised his players for their determination and discipline against one of the tournament favourites and stressed that the team remained focused on securing qualification to the next stage.
The draw leaves Ghana in a favourable position heading into their final Group stage fixture against Croatia at the Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday.
A positive result in that encounter would confirm the Black Stars’ place in the knockout phase and continue their impressive campaign.
Queiroz emphasised that every point was crucial in a highly competitive group and assured supporters that his players would continue to fight for qualification until the final whistle of the group stage campaign.
With four points already secured and qualification within reach, Ghana will now turn its attention to the decisive clash against Croatia as they seek to book a place in the Round of 32 and keep their World Cup dream alive.
