FIFA World Cup 2026: Harry Kane registers worst major tournament outing against Ghana
Massachusetts, June 24
England captain Harry Kane had an underwhelming outing in the FIFA World Cup clash against Ghana, failing to make an impact goal-wise and overall performance-wise just days after his brace against Croatia.
During his side's goalless draw against Ghana, as per Sky Sports, Kane recorded just 19 touches throughout the game, the fewest by him in a major tournament match in the English shirt, while playing 90 or more minutes.
The clash saw plenty of interesting records and statistics emerging.
England's 12-match winning streak in competitive football came to an end, marking the first time they failed to register a victory since October 2024 against Greece, according to ESPN.
Ghana, meanwhile, avoided defeat in their opening two matches at a FIFA World Cup for only the second time since 2010, when they went on to reach the quarterfinals.
Despite dominating possession, England recorded 79 per cent possession against Ghana, the highest by any team that failed to score in a match in the last 60 years at the FIFA World Cup.
Ghana managed just 2 shots, which is the joint-lowest by any team in a game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also marking the fewest England has conceded in a World Cup match in the last 60 years.
The match also saw England register their thirteenth scoreless draw at the FIFA World Cup, the most by any team in history, with Brazil next on the list with 9.
England extended their unbeaten run against African teams at the FIFA World Cup to 9 matches.
Jude Bellingham reached a personal milestone by making his 50th appearance for England, becoming the youngest Englishman to reach this landmark at 22 years and 359 days.
England also produced a passing masterclass, completing 93 per cent of their passes, their joint-highest in a World Cup match since 1966, while registering 430 passes in the opposition half, their most in a World Cup game since 1966.
Defender Marc Guehi stood out statistically as well, completing 125 passes, the highest by an England player on record since 1966 in a FIFA World Cup match.
— ANI
Reader Comments
England's numbers are wild—79% possession and 430 passes in the opposition half but zero goals? That's like preparing a feast and forgetting the main dish! 🫢. Kane might be world-class, but Ghana showed that teamwork and grit can neutralize any star player. India can learn a lot from this match.
As a football fan from the US, I'm impressed by Ghana's defensive strategy. They absorbed so much pressure and still managed to hold England to a draw. Kane's 19 touches is shocking for a player of his caliber—maybe Southgate needs to rethink his tactics. England's stats are impressive but hollow without goals.
Watching this match, I couldn't help but think of our Indian Super League. England's 93% pass accuracy is next-level, but it means nothing if you can't finish. Ghana played like underdogs with a plan—similar to how we need to compete globally. Also, Bellingham at 50 caps already? That boy is a legend in the making! 🔥
I'm not a big football fan, but this stat blew my mind: England had 13 goalless draws in World Cup history—more than any other team! That's like our cricket team's reputation for chokes in knockout matches. Ghana deserves huge respect for their discipline. Kane should take a lesson from Virat Kohli about bouncing back from a slump.
Honestly, this shows that possession stats don't win trophies. England's 'passing masterclass' was boring to watch—reminds me of some European teams that overpass without intent. Ghana's two shots tell a
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.