Thomas Tuchel could not hide his frustration during England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, with cameras catching him repeatedly shouting at Djed Spence from the touchline.
The Tottenham defender was handed a starting role against Ghana, replacing Nico O’Reilly in the lineup. It was seen as one of Tuchel’s key changes after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening match.
But Spence endured a difficult night.
Against a deep, disciplined and compact Ghana defence, England struggled to create space out wide. Their possession was heavy, but their attacking rhythm was slow and predictable.
A video that spread after the match showed Tuchel growing increasingly impatient. The German coach repeatedly shouted Spence’s name and appeared to demand quicker movement and sharper combinations when England tried to build attacks.
The tension reflected England’s wider problems on the pitch. The Three Lions dominated the ball, controlled the game and kept Ghana under pressure, but they lacked speed, creativity and cutting edge in the final third.
Harry Kane was tightly marked, Jude Bellingham found little room to dictate play, and England’s wide players failed to stretch Ghana’s defensive shape enough.
England’s clearest chance came late on when Nico O’Reilly struck the crossbar. Kane reacted to the rebound but failed to score, while Marc Guéhi also saw an effort cleared off the line.
After the final whistle, Tuchel had plenty to think about. England remain in a strong position to qualify, but this performance did little to convince supporters that they are ready to go deep in the tournament.
For Spence, it was a tough test in an England shirt.
For Tuchel, his anger on the touchline showed one thing clearly: he knows England must improve quickly if they want to be serious World Cup contenders.
