Ghana faced England in a tense World Cup encounter that ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving both teams with much to ponder. The match, held at Boston Stadium, saw Ghana denied what appeared to be a clear penalty late in the game, leading to frustration for their coach, Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz Questions VAR Decisions

After the match, Queiroz expressed his bewilderment over the officiating, particularly regarding a challenge by Ezri Konsa on Prince Adu. The Ghanaian forward was brought down in the 79th minute, yet no penalty was awarded despite Konsa's failure to make contact with the ball. Queiroz humorously remarked that it seemed as if the VAR officials "went for coffee" during a crucial moment of the match. He stated, "I'm not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup. Do we still have VAR? It's working?"

Match Statistics and Implications

Despite England dominating possession with 78.8%, the highest recorded in a World Cup match without scoring since 1966, they struggled to convert their chances, registering 19 attempts and 1.36 expected goals. Ghana, on the other hand, managed only two shots and 0.17 expected goals but threatened to upset the odds with some late counter-attacks. Queiroz noted, "We had our chances to the point that they [England] are lucky. They are very lucky."

Looking ahead, Ghana's path to the knockout stage is clearer. A draw against Croatia in their final Group L match on Saturday will secure their place in the next round, while even a loss could see them advance as one of the best third-place teams. England, meanwhile, will aim to top the group by defeating Panama, who have already been eliminated.

In addition to the VAR controversy, Queiroz was involved in a heated exchange with England's Jude Bellingham at halftime, highlighting the competitive nature of the match. Despite the frustrations, Queiroz concluded that the draw was a fair result, stating, "At the end of the day, that's why I say it was a fair result."