Ghana's defense was toughest I've seen, says England coach Tuchel

England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed his frustration with his team's inability to break down Ghana's formidable defense during their 0-0 World Cup draw. He described the Ghanaian side's defensive display as one of the most determined and disciplined he had ever encountered.

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I think full respect (to Ghana) and they defended with a lot of determination, with a lot of discipline, and with one of the most physical performances that I saw from a team defending.

"I think full respect (to Ghana) and they defended with a lot of determination, with a lot of discipline, and with one of the most physical performances that I saw from a team defending," Tuchel told reporters. He noted that while England had sufficient set-pieces to potentially win the match, they lacked the necessary clinical edge.

Tuchel acknowledged that the lack of goals might disappoint fans, especially after England's more attacking performance in their opening match. He urged supporters to remain positive and retain their belief in the team, emphasizing that there is still a long way to go in the tournament. "We always try to entertain our fans. It was difficult today. I hope they don’t lose belief. There’s a long way to go," he said.

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We had enough set-pieces to decide the match but we were not clinical enough.

England achieved a remarkable 78.8% possession in the match, the highest recorded for any team in a World Cup game without scoring since 1966. Despite the attacking struggles, England has secured four points from their first two games, making their progression to the knockout stage highly probable. Their final Group L match is against Panama.

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We always try to entertain our fans. It was difficult today. I hope they don’t lose belief. There’s a long way to go.

Tuchel also commented on a missed opportunity by captain Harry Kane, who blazed a shot over the bar late in the game. "Ninety-nine out of 100 he will convert this chance," Tuchel said, suggesting it was an uncharacteristic miss for the prolific striker.

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Ninety-nine out of 100 he will convert this chance.