Thomas Partey’s return to the World Cup spotlight became one of the biggest talking points of England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston.
The Ghana midfielder was loudly booed by sections of the England support every time he touched the ball. The reaction came after days of debate surrounding whether England players would take part in the traditional pre-match handshake with Partey.
The most notable moment came before kick-off, when Djed Spence appeared to avoid shaking Partey’s hand during the line-up ceremony. The Tottenham defender kept his hand away as the Ghana player walked past, creating a moment that was quickly picked up by cameras and widely discussed online.
Partey, who now plays for Villarreal after leaving Arsenal, missed Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama because he was denied entry to Canada. He was later able to join the squad in the United States and returned for the match against England.
The midfielder remains involved in an ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom and has denied all charges against him. Because of legal sensitivities, England’s camp largely avoided discussing the issue directly.
Thomas Tuchel was stopped from answering a post-match question about Partey, while Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz criticised attempts to bring outside controversy into football. Queiroz insisted that the focus should remain on the match and on the players’ performance.
On the pitch, Ghana’s plan worked. They frustrated England with a compact defensive shape and earned a valuable 0-0 draw.
For England, the night was disappointing. They dominated possession but lacked the final touch, with Nico O’Reilly hitting the bar and Harry Kane missing the rebound.
But beyond the result, the Partey handshake moment and the crowd reaction ensured this match would be remembered for far more than football alone.
