Overview information
Both England and Ghana won three points in the first round, but the way they did it was opposite.
Ghana did not take any shots in the first half of the victory over Panama, but eventually defeated the opponent thanks to a goal in injury time.
England also did not have a perfect match when facing Croatia when defending loosely, allowing the opponent to score 2 goals in the first half. However, in terms of attack, they were one of the most impressive teams in the first match.
They launched up to 11 shots on target against Croatia, a number only behind Germany in the match against Curacao (12 times). Not counting penalties, Thomas Tuchel's team also has the highest expected goal index (1.09) and the most shots on target (5) from set pieces compared to any other team in the first match.
Based on the performance in the second half, there is still a feeling that England could explode even more, especially with Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford creating influence from the bench.
Elliot Anderson is one of the best players of the England team in the match against Croatia, with up to 8 times regaining possession of the ball, more than any other player of the England team. That is a strength of the midfielder currently playing for Nottingham Forest.
If they beat Ghana, England will have their fourth victory in the first two matches at the World Cup after 1982, 2006 and 2018.
This match also marked an impressive milestone for some players of the Three Lions (nickname of the England team).
Jordan Pickford and John Stones both could make their 14th appearances at the World Cup for the England national team, a record only behind former goalkeeper Peter Shilton (17 matches) in the team's history.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham may have his 50th match wearing the England national team jersey. At the age of 22 years and 359 days on the day of the match, he will become the youngest player in history to reach this milestone for the Three Lions.
Harry Kane is also on the threshold of a major record. If he scores in this match, Kane will surpass Gary Lineker (10) to become the highest scorer of all time for the England national team at the World Cup.
The Ghana national team is led by Carlos Queiroz, an experienced coach, famous in England as assistant coach at Man United under Alex Ferguson.
England once faced Queiroz at the World Cup, and won 6-2 against his Iranian team at the 2022 World Cup. That was Queiroz's heaviest defeat as coach at this tournament.
Caleb Yirenkyi scored the decisive goal in the last minute for Ghana against Panama, but most of England's attention will be focused on Antoine Semenyo.
This winger had an impressive season in the Premier League with Bournemouth and Man City, but encountered difficulties in the opening match of the World Cup. Semenyo only made two shots, touching the ball 36 times – the smallest number among Ghana's players who played the whole match.
Head-to-head statistics between England and Ghana
England and Ghana will face each other for the first time at the World Cup. The only previous encounter between the two teams was a friendly match in March 2011 at Wembley – the match ended with a score of 1-1, with goals from Andy Carroll and Asamoah Gyan.
England has never lost to African teams at the World Cup, with 5 wins and 3 draws.
This match will also mark the eighth time the England team has met different African opponents at the World Cup (after Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria and Senegal), more than any other country.
Expected lineup:
Pickford, James, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane.
Ghana national team: Asare, Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah, Yirenkyi, Partey, Fatawu, Sulemana, Semenyo, Ayew.
