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Sports World News Updated Jun 24, 2026

Bellingham Credits Ghana After England Held to Goalless Draw in World Cup

England were held to a goalless draw by Ghana in their Group L clash at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Jude Bellingham credited Ghana's disciplined defensive display for frustrating England's attack. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, England failed to score for the first time in the tournament. Bellingham became the youngest male player to reach 50 international caps at 22 years and 359 days.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Jude Bellingham credits Ghana after England's goalless draw

Massachusetts, June 24

Jude Bellingham credited Ghana after his side were held to a goalless draw in their Group L encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.

Bellingham acknowledged England's frustration in breaking down a disciplined Ghana side but insisted the result was not a setback in their campaign.

"It's one of those things that can happen," he said as quoted by FIFA Website.

The 22-year-old noted that England controlled large phases of the match through possession, corners and attempts on goal, but were ultimately unable to find a breakthrough against a well-organised defensive setup.

"Credit to Ghana. They got out of the game what they played for. We couldn't quite break them down, even with all the corners, all the possession, all the shots on goal," he said.

Bellingham also underlined the importance of maintaining morale within the squad, stressing that there was no panic in the dressing room despite the dropped points.

"I'm young, but I'm still one of the experienced players in the dressing room. There's no worries, no stress, no drama at all in there," he said, adding that the team's focus remains on staying positive.

The 22-year-old midfielder said England remain in a strong position in Group L with four points from two matches and urged the squad to maintain their momentum heading into the remaining fixtures.

"We've got four points, it puts us in a good position. It's not the end of the world," he added.

England were held to a goalless draw by Ghana in their Group L clash at Boston Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026, after Carlos Queiroz's side produced a disciplined and organised defensive display to frustrate Thomas Tuchel's team.

Despite coming into the match after a 4-2 win over Croatia, England dominated possession and controlled large phases of play but struggled to break down Ghana's compact five-man defence. Harry Kane was left isolated for much of the game, while England's creative players found little space between the lines and failed to register a shot on target in the first half.

In the second half, Tuchel introduced Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze to add attacking urgency, while Jude Bellingham was replaced by Morgan Rogers after reaching 50 international caps at just 22 years and 359 days, becoming the youngest male player to achieve the milestone.

England's pressure increased after the changes, with Nico O'Reilly hitting the crossbar in the 87th minute and Harry Kane missing the follow-up. Ghana also survived a late scare when they cleared a header off the line in stoppage time to preserve their clean sheet.

Despite sustained pressure, England could not find a breakthrough and were forced to settle for a draw, remaining top of Group L with four points from two matches, level on points with second-placed Ghana.

— ANI

Reader Comments

Priya S

Typical England - all possession, no penetration against a low block. We Indians know this struggle well watching our cricket team in T20s! But honestly, Ghana deserved this point. Their defensive organization was something even India's football team can learn from. Bellingham is right though - 4 points from 2 games is decent. No need for panic.

Vikram M

As a neutral Indian fan watching this, I was actually rooting for Ghana! 🇬🇭 Love seeing African teams punch above their weight on the world stage. Bellingham showing maturity at 22 - our Indian U-23 footballers could learn from his composure. But England's attack looked toothless without proper creativity in the middle. Tuchel needs to figure this out before knockouts.

James A

Bellingham is right - credit to Ghana for a world-class defensive display. As an England fan living in India, it's frustrating but not the end of the world. The intensity of the Premier League is great but these tournament games against well-drilled teams require patience. Let's see how they respond in the next match.

Rohit P

Indian football moment - we know all about drawing games we should have won! 😅 But honestly, this is why I love the World Cup. A team like Ghana with passion and discipline can hold England to a draw. Bellingham's attitude is refreshing - no excuses, just respect for the opponent. The young man has a wise head on young shoulders. India's Sunil Chhetri would approve of such sportsmanship!

Kavya N

While I appreciate Bellingham's grace in defeat, I think

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