Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterExpectations were high for England after their convincing win over Croatia last week, but Ghana have proven a sterner test than many had hoped.A stop-start first half saw England have the lion's share of possession and create more chances, but there was very little cohesion, momentum, or danger in any of the play for either side.It seems Ghana's highly-organised, compact defensive setup is doing the trick, but can England find a way through in the second half?Play our FREE match predictor and win �1kJude Bellingham and Declan Rice need to be more adventurous for EnglandEngland found it difficult to break through the Ghana lines, but Wayne Rooney believes the solution lies with midfield pair Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.In the BBC studio, he said: "Early on in the half, I think Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham's positions were really key to England breaking them down. You may like England's failed preparation for Ghana explained by Anthony Barry: 'They defend deeper than we expected' How to watch England vs Ghana or FREE at World Cup 2026 Jude Bellingham has broken long-standing Wayne Rooney record - without even touching a ball "If we look now at the positions they've both taken up, they need to be looking to make runs in behind. It's so congested and difficult to play through a 4-5-1 is very tough to break down."With Harry Kane dropping deep, we need to see Declan Rice and Bellingham making those runs in behind. If they don't, it stays very tight; you can't get through it, you can't see a pass, and it's very difficult to break them down. Ghana are defending really well, to be fair to them."Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Of course, Thomas Tuchel may well look to his bench to sharpen things up and find a break through in the second half, just as he did against Croatia.But, Rooney believes a minor tweak in the mindset of Bellingham and Rice could do the job.He added: "When you've got Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in better positions, Declan Rice threatens to make the run behind, and then Jude makes the run in behind, dragging the backline with him."We're still probing, but they're trying to make those runs to be a bit more positive. I imagine this is exactly what Thomas Tuchel is saying to them: let's try and drag them out of their positions to make it a little bit easier to find a bit more space around or inside the penalty box."Last time out in the World Cup 2026, it sounded like Tuchel made it very clear to his players that he wanted them to be braver and play the way he has instructed them.One thing's for sure, something has to change or England could find themselves frustrated and empty handed come full-time in Boston.TOPICSEnglandGhanaWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Jakob BarnesFreelance WriterJakob has over 11 years of experience in journalism across sports, entertainment, tech, and politics. Now a freelance news writer for FourFourTwo, he covers the biggest stories from the world of football.
