Why were England so flat against Ghana?

In this episode of The Athletic FC Podcast, hosts Emma Paton, Liam Tharme, and Karl Anker analyze England's uninspiring 0-0 draw with Ghana, dissecting the match's implications for their World Cup campaign. They discuss the key stats, including England's record possession percentage, and the missed opportunities, particularly by Harry Kane. The conversation shifts towards the tactical setup of both teams, noting Ghana's effective defensive strategy under coach Carlos Queiroz. Jack Pitbrook, reporting from the match, underscores the need for England to secure a win against Panama to progress confidently to the knockout stage. The hosts also delve into potential player changes for England, contemplating options like Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford while evaluating the impact of players like Jed Spence. Furthermore, they cover Cristiano Ronaldo's impressive performance for Portugal in a recent match against Uzbekistan, analyzing how his goals may affect public perception of his abilities. The episode wraps up by discussing the significance of the upcoming matches for other teams like Scotland and Bosnia in the World Cup.