The concerning trend England must address in World Cup clash with Ghana

Within the England camp, there’s been a phrase that Thomas Tuchel has used a lot. The German constantly talks of the need to “walk the talk”. He’s said it in reference to everything from his own selection decisions and man-management to how the players interact with each other. And now, it needs to apply to this second World Cup match against Ghana.

Or, perhaps more appropriately for this game in Foxborough, the phrase should be “run the talk” or even sprint it.

Tuchel has been effusive about the energy and intensity of the team in that second half of the 4-2 win over Croatia, praising how “much more active and aggressive” they were. This, as the manager put it, is what people in the pubs want to see. It has only improved an already ebullient mood around England’s Kansas City base this week.

The impressive intensity from that play and their training sessions has only stood out all the more amid the relaxation of the camp; the backgammon games, the country music being played, throwing the opening pitch at the baseball, Dan Burn dressing up like Garth Brooks.

The challenge now is to keep it going, to keep the momentum going, keep the pace up.

That may also offer another way that Tuchel can differentiate this side from the Gareth Southgate era. England developed a trend where they followed the first win the way they followed scoring the first goals in big games: by stepping off, by withdrawing. All of Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 brought 0-0 draws in the second games: against Scotland, USA and Slovenia, respectively.

England, consequently, can’t just keep talking about that spell against Croatia. They need to do it again. And again. And again.

Such demands are fitting in their own way because of what that spell represented. It was essentially the closest this World Cup has seen to how an elite club side play. The intensity was that high and the connections that deep. Croatia just couldn’t play out.

So, how do England recreate that against Ghana?

“That is a tricky part,” Tuchel acknowledged. “The beautiful thing is that the things that were not so good we do not need to amend anything new, we just need to do our stuff better from the first half. Now the problem is that we expect a completely different opponent and style of play.

“I expect more ball possession. I expect Ghana to rely on counter-attacks because they are very physical, very fast and dangerous in counter-attacks. There will be different topics to take care about without losing our momentum, without losing our passion. And still have the spirit and that we are courageous enough to go for it.”

This is where Tuchel’s half-time message about bravery from Croatia is so important. The England manager is right about Ghana. They aren’t just very fast, they're potentially devastating. In their own late 1-0 win over Panama, eight different players recorded a top speed of 30km an hour or more. Antoine Semenyo naturally sprinted more than anyone, covering 324.5m on at least 25km an hour, reflecting how he is the great danger.

The key point here is that there is now greater risk to England seeking to create, and sustain, the same surge that they enjoyed in the opening game. Croatia may not have been able to get out, but Ghana have so many more outlets. Consequently, you could see England’s typical second-game caution coming. It’s going to demand even more of the bravery desired by Tuchel, but he feels the energy in training is conducive to this.

“The build of the training session was yesterday to grow into this week and today was very tense and on a high level,” he said. “It is our job to not be complacent and say ‘ok, everything is done now,’ the players know that hard work is needed and it will always be a mix but at the moment I cannot see any signs of complacency.”

The conditions may help. While Boston was stiflingly hot for Scotland, these two days have brought a lull where it is set to be 19 degrees and raining for kick-off. In other words, perfect for that kind of intensity.

Also maybe essential given that England now enter a concentrated spell of days, that possibly brings a last-16 match against Mexico at the Azteca at altitude, and then perhaps Brazil in Miami.

The squad will deal with challenges like that as they come, though. That’s the mood right now.

For all of the good vibes, however, many have been considering one more complicated issue for this game.

There will be scrutiny on how they interact with Thomas Partey, given that he is scheduled to go on trial at Southwark crown court next year after being charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He was later charged with two further counts of rape. The player has denied all the charges and his lawyer insists he welcomes the chance to clear his name.

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When asked before the Croatia game whether the Football Association had a position on handshakes, chief executive Mark Bullingham said they had “not got a view on that, we’re focused on Croatia”.

The players, for their part, are said to see the handshakes as part of the pre-game formalities with no greater meaning. They otherwise just have to focus on their own performance.

If they are enjoying their time in Kansas City, Tuchel is just relishing being involved on this stage.

“It just gives me a lot of energy to be at a World Cup, to have this tournament and be in competitive mode, to be surrounded by world-class players and fantastic personalities. It energises me and that's how it needs to be done.

“I'm influencing the players, influencing the staff so I have to be on the front foot, also not too much. I want to have the right mix between relaxation and the smile and the arm round the shoulder and good spirit. I hope that they feel it because the competition is on and I want to be at my best and support them, first of all, to be their best because it's their stage. It's their potential that has to bring us all the way and should shine. That's how I understand my role and I love the competition and to be a coach.

“I've had one of the best days and weeks of my coaching career until now.”

And he now wants to ensure that such talk doesn’t stop there.