![\"Ewan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782253273_638_Ewan_Murray,_L.png\")
Ewan Murray<\/p>\nIt may seem distinctly Scottish that the creation of football history could come with grumbling over the manner in which that was achieved. On Tuesday afternoon, the movable feast that is the best-third-place table at this World Cup<\/a> had Scotland second and in a strong position to advance to the knockout phase for the first time. Heavy defeat against Brazil on Wednesday in Miami could damage that position but it remains perfectly feasible that the 1-0 win over Haiti and three points will take Scotland into uncharted territory. Denis Law did not emerge from a tournament group with Scotland. Neither did Kenny Dalglish. The 1974 World Cup team were unbeaten yet still on an early flight home. This has been a weight on the shoulders of Scotland teams for decades.<\/p>\n In a rare departure from sharp analysis, Rory McIlroy stated last week that Scotland<\/a> had benefited from the expansion of the World Cup by means of qualification. In fact, they topped their section so would have participated regardless of size. What is undeniable, however, is that the path towards the last 32 can be almost laughably simple for some. Victory over Haiti was rightly expected, as was defeat by Morocco and \u2013 while not a certainty \u2013 so would be another loss to Brazil.<\/p>\n If Scotland stumble through, there will be whooping and cheering regardless of context that it feels sensible to apply. In defence of Steve Clarke and Scotland, they do not make the tournament rules. A group that includes two nations who stand in the world\u2019s top six also constitutes a tough draw. Facing a hugely backed Brazil<\/a> in the suffocating heat here will be among Clarke\u2019s sternest challenges in management.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNow that was an England World Cup<\/a> group game,\u201d writes Eddy Nason. \u201cThe last one with the xG and the goals felt so wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Declan Rice’s reaction<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball. You\u2019ve gotta find solutions. In the last 10 minutes we probably found more than we had all game and we were unlucky not to score.<\/p>\n Look, we stay positive \u2013 we keep going, and we still have a great chance to top the group against Panama. [If they win the group they will avoid Cristiano\u2019s Revenge a potential last 32 tie against Portugal.]<\/p>\n You have to give credit to Ghana: 5-4-1 without the ball, very compact, tight spaces to play through. On the other hand, maybe we could do more with the ball. But it\u2019s tough, they\u2019re good players and it was never gonna be an easy game.<\/p>\n Loads of top nations drew their first game. There\u2019s no need to be negative or downbeat. We need to stay positive and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next up: Panama v Croatia<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBy the standards of a Carlos Queiroz team, the Black Stars are an interesting watch,\u201d faintpraises K\u00e1ri Tulinius. \u201cThe defensive block isn\u2019t static, the Ghanaians moving around and altering their shape in anticipation of what England<\/a> might do, their shifting patterns making sense once the English players commit to what they\u2019ve threatened to do. It\u2019s not fun, but it\u2019s interesting. Not as interesting as a goal, but a starving man doesn\u2019t complain about the consistency of his porridge.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full time: England 0-0 Ghana<\/p>\n That difficult second group game, eh. For the fourth major tournament in a row, England<\/a> have followed victory in their first game with an underwhelming draw in the second. Send. Them. Home.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no need to get carried away. England often struggle against a low block, and this game will bear little resemblance to the knockout matches England play. Besides, only the most tedious, irredeemably one-eyed Englishman would forget to give Ghana credit for a superb, strikingly callm defensive performance. They had all the earmarks of a Carlos Queiroz side, and might have nicked it in the second half when the substitute Prince Kwabena Adu started running in behind.<\/p>\n Ghana\u2019s keeper Benjamin Asare celebrates after his team\u2019s goalless draw against England. Photograph: Jon Olav Nesvold\/Bildbyr\u00e5n\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.19 EDT<\/p>\n 90+5 min: Ghana substitution Baba Rahman replaces the earlier substitute Prince Kwabena Adu. No shade on his excellent performance; Ghana just want another defensive resource.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>90+3 min: Off the line!<\/p>\n A Rice corner is hooked back across by Eze (I think) towards Guehi, whose clever looping header is headed off the line. Not sure who the defender was but he did his job perfectly.<\/p>\n England’s Marc Guehi sends a looping header goalwards. Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.05 EDT<\/p>\n 90 min Six minutes of added time. The game feels more open than at any stage tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 min O\u2019Reilly was really angry with himself for missing that chance. So many of his goals are the kind you expect from a No9, and that would have been another.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 min: Ghana substitution Kojo Peprah Oppong replaces the excellent (and presumably shattered) Marvin Senaya.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.57 EDT<\/p>\n 86 min: O’Reilly hits the bar!<\/p>\n Ghana can\u2019t out following that Saka shot. James flips an insouciant cross towards O\u2019Reilly, who heads the ball off his shoulder and then onto the crossbar. It rebounds to Kane, who launches it into orbit from seven yards with his left foot.<\/p>\n You\u2019d expect Kane to score but the bounce made it a deceptively awkward chance. The ball was not a James fan.<\/p>\n Nico O’Reilly of England hits the bar with a header. Photograph: Javier Garc\u00eda\/ShutterstockThe ball comes back and Harry Kane blasts a shot over the crossbar. Photograph: Pilar Olivares\/ReutersO\u2019Reilly and Kane rue their missed chances. Photograph: Martin Meissner\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.01 EDT<\/p>\n 86 min Saka wriggles infield from the right and whips a tradedmark curler from 20 yards. Asare gets down smartly to his right to beat it away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 min: England<\/a> substitution Marcus Rashford for Noni Madueke.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 82 min Owen Linderholm writes in to say the Univision commentary team had the following verdict on the foul by Adu on Pickford in the 68th minute. \u201cBoth players arrived at the ball, Adu kicked out and missed the ball and got Pickford. Both went over. Ball went past. Immediate assessment, clear foul by Ghana, move on.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.54 EDT<\/p>\n 80 min There was a defender on the line when Semenyo blocked Adu\u2019s shot, but he was offside because Pickford was out of the game. He came to meet Adu, who was then challenged from the side by the flying Konsa. The ball ran past Pickford, who was unable to change direction, and then Adu manufactured a shot while lying on the ground.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>79 min: Big chance for Ghana!<\/p>\n Ghana break four on four. Fatawu plays a simple pass in behind, allowing the substitute Adu to charge through on goal. He takes a heavy touch and is potentially fouled by the lunging Konsa. Play continues, Adu has a shot blocked in the six-yard box by Semenyo, who couldn\u2019t get out of the way, and then the flag goes up.<\/p>\n I think the flag was for offside against Semenyo, not Adu, which would mean his chance was a big one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.18 EDT<\/p>\n 77 min Here\u2019s my colleague Beau Dure on that Jordan Pickford business in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re being told on Fox (by one of their best commentator teams) that the play couldn\u2019t be reviewed because it didn\u2019t involve a penalty appeal or a potential red card. <\/p>\n On my referee message board, the word is that they can\u2019t use the same \u201cmistaken identity\u201d excuse for checking things as they did when they switched a yellow card from Tim Ream (wrongly accused of foul) to Miguel Almiron (correctly accused of simulation) because no card was issued. <\/p>\n So if the ref had given a yellow to the Ghanaian player, THEN they could have gone to VAR.<\/p>\n Which … doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t really mind loopholes like that, even if they\u2019re not ideal. I wondered whether it was a potential Dogso red card for Pickford, but I guess that\u2019s not the case from what you\u2019ve said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 74 min Easy to forget, this being an English newspaper, what a draw would mean for Ghana. They haven\u2019t played a World Cup knockout game since their unimaginably painful defeat to Uruguay in the quarter-final of 2010<\/a>. A point tonight would all but ensure a place in the admittedly inflated knockout stage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 73 min: Double substitution Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze replace Jude Bellingham, who had a modest game, and Elliot Anderson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 72 min \u201cThomas Tuchel\u2019s value won\u2019t be seen until the knockout rounds when England<\/a> play teams that are on the front foot,\u201d writes Brendan Murphy. \u201cFrankly, I\u2019d be happy for England to just say: \u2018Ok, eff it, you don\u2019t want to play we won\u2019t either. Queiroz is a famous pain in the arse. Don\u2019t get worked up, take the point and move on\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yeah, in isolation this game is irrelevant to England\u2019s chances of success, but I worry slightly about the impact on the all-important vibe.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 71 min Hydration break o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n England manager Thomas Tuchel attempts to chivvy up Jude Bellingham in the hydration break. Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.40 EDT<\/p>\n 70 min I\u2019m surprised we haven\u2019t seen Ivan Toney, who is probably England\u2019s best option against such a deep defence.<\/p>\n England would have loved to have Toney at the back post to meet a brilliant cross from Madueke. Instead it was Saka, who couldn\u2019t quite get on top of the ball and headed over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 69 min Kane swishes a low, left-foot drive from 20 yards that is held by Asare as he falls to his left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 68 min Prince Kwabena Adu, who has just come on, runs onto a through ball that lures Pickford from his box. Pickford misses the ball, then collides with Adu \u2013 and the referee gives a free-kick to England<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been cleared by VAR but I\u2019d like to see that again.<\/p>\n Ghana’s Prince Adu collides with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Photograph: Nick Potts\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.37 EDT<\/p>\n 67 min: Ghana substitutions Prince Kwabena Adu and Abdul Fatawu come on for Jordan Ayew and Inaki Williams.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min: England<\/a> substitutions Bukayo Saka and Nico O\u2019Reilly replaces Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence. That\u2019s interesting; I assume Madueke will move to the left. O\u2019Reilly is a much bigger goal threat, especially against a low block, than Spence.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min Gordon has improved a lot in the second half. When a free-kick is half cleared, he guides a careful pass across the edge of the area to Madueke, who opens his body and curls over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min That shot from Gordon in the 57th minute was the first on target at either end.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 min Inaki Williams is booked for a lunging tackle on Gordon, who is starting to stir. Rice takes the free-kick and picks out the unmarked Anderson at the far post; his powerful header is well blocked.<\/p>\n England’s Anthony Gordon looks to be in a bit of pain. Photograph: Brian Snyder\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.35 EDT<\/p>\n 59 min \u201cOur wide forwards definitely seem to be the weak links at the moment,\u201d says Fin. \u201cGordon and Madueke seem way off the level. Saka can help the right but will Rashford get the nod and not just as a finisher?\u201d<\/p>\n I like Madueke. He\u2019s erratic and frustrating, but at his best I think he can ruin any full-back in the world. Okay, most of them. He\u2019s not as good as Saka but he is quicker and more direct, and England<\/a> really need that in wide areas. Although Gordon\u2019s start to the tournament is a bit of a concern, I think he (or Rashford) will be more threatening against better teams.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 57 min England move the ball sharply from left to right, across the edge of the area. Madueke\u2019s deflected shot is headed away in the six-yard box, then Gordon whips a shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 54 min Bellingham takes a tumble in the area after running into Opoku. I don\u2019t think it was a dive, but not was it a foul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 53 min \u201cI missed an Elastica discussion,\u201d writes Beau Dure, \u201cDang. That was a strong album through and through. FWIW, I thought the second Stone Roses album was great.<\/p>\n \u201cI love hearing the Alan Parsons Project song Sirius<\/a> as teams take the field. It\u2019s a callback to the arena intro that raised the bar like a Mondo Duplantis of the 1990s.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if I were on an opposing team, I\u2019d race to the changing room out of abject fear even before they got around to introducing Michael Jordan.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure I\u2019d call it a discussion. But it always warms my heart to know that there are football tragics out there who are as cool as me also like Elastica, and Bill Is Dead, and Jetplane by Sorry.<\/p>\n