England 'lucky' to draw Ghana as Queiroz fumes over 'coffee break' VAR

England’s World Cup campaign encountered its first significant turbulence in Foxborough, as a gritty Ghana side held the Three Lions to a goalless draw in Group L. The result leaves England’s path to the knockout stages unnecessarily complicated, but the scoreline was only half the story. A series of controversial officiating decisions, or lack thereof, have ignited a firestorm, with Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz memorably claiming the Video Assistant Referee had “gone for a coffee” during pivotal moments that could have swung the match decisively in the Black Stars’ favor.

England Stumble as Attack Falters

England dominated possession and territorial advantage but lacked the cutting edge that saw them dismantle Croatia 4-2 in their opener. According to USA TODAY, the Three Lions controlled a staggering 72% of possession and outshot Ghana 18 to 2, yet only managed four efforts on target against goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. It was a performance marked by profligacy; shots repeatedly sailed high and wide of the mark, betraying a tension that permeated the side’s build-up play. The best chance of a late winner fell to 21-year-old substitute Nico O’Reilly, whose header from a pinpoint Reece James cross crashed against the crossbar, encapsulating a night of near misses.

A Blueprint for Defiance

FOX Sports’ match data, showing England’s recent comfortable wins over Costa Rica and New Zealand, highlighted the expectation for a routine victory that never materialized. Ghana’s defensive discipline, marshaled by the impressive Asare, was the bedrock of their performance. As USA TODAY noted, even a typically incisive Bukayo Saka, introduced as a substitute to apply late pressure, was denied by a sprawling Asare save. The inability to translate overwhelming statistical dominance into goals raises concerns about Plan B for England manager Thomas Tuchel, especially against deep-lying, physically robust defenses that will likely become a feature of the tournament’s knockout phase.

‘The VAR went for a coffee’: The Officiating Storm

The post-match discourse was dominated not by England’s blunt attack, but by a pair of first-half incidents that left Ghanaian players and staff incandescent with rage. The Independent reported in detail on Queiroz’s scathing assessment, where he alleged his team was denied a “clear penalty” and a “red card.” The flashpoints both involved Ghana forward Prince Abu. In the first, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford rushed far out of his penalty area and collided heavily with Abu as he attempted to win a loose ball, a challenge that in slow motion appeared to be high and reckless. Later, defender Ezri Konsa was extremely fortunate to escape punishment after a clumsy challenge brought Abu tumbling just inside the box.

Red Card Escape for Pickford

The Pickford incident is arguably the more egregious miss. With the goalkeeper stranded outside his area, the nature of the collision with Prince Abu carried the clear hallmarks of serious foul play and denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The Independent’s coverage highlighted Queiroz’s disbelief, quoting him directly as saying England were “very lucky” and that VAR was apparently “on holiday.” A red card in that situation would have left England with ten men and an outfield player in goal for the majority of the match, fundamentally altering the dynamic of a game they were already struggling to control. The non-call allowed Pickford to remain on the pitch, a moment of immense reprieve that preserved England’s numerical parity.

The Konsa Penalty Shout

The second flashpoint, involving Ezri Konsa, while perhaps less clear-cut than the Pickford challenge, drew equal fury. Ghana’s appeals for a spot-kick were vehement, with replays suggesting contact on Prince Abu inside the 18-yard box. As The Independent reported, Queiroz linked both controversies together, sarcastically joking that the VAR official was not just absent but must have physically left their station. While England’s dominant possession stats from USA TODAY show they were the more aesthetically pleasing side, these officiating decisions provide crucial context to the 0-0 stalemate: Ghana were arguably robbed of the two game-defining situations that their rare but effective counter-attacking forays produced.

Group L on a Knife-Edge

The result leaves Group L intriguingly poised heading into the final round of matches. According to USA TODAY, both England and Ghana now sit on four points, with England holding only a slender advantage at the top due to a superior goal differential. This sets up a decisive finale where England cannot afford to be as wasteful. The context provided by FOX Sports’ schedule shows that England will need a resolute performance to secure their place in the knockout stages as group winners, a crucial seeding advantage. A second-place finish could steer them towards a much more perilous path against a group winner from another section, turning what seemed a straightforward progression into a fraught scenario following the stalemate in Foxborough.

Editor's Take: Tournament Impact

The immediate impact of this draw is fragile confidence and a sudden reliance on goal difference in Group L. For England, the profligacy in front of goal is a tactical alarm bell. The inability of the starting forward line to break down Ghana’s low block means Thomas Tuchel has a genuine selection dilemma. Nico O’Reilly’s near-miss header off the bench might earn the young midfielder a more prominent role, but the bigger question is whether a more conventional target man is required for games where intricate passing fails. As USA TODAY’s report implies, simply having 72% possession is a hollow statistic without end product.

For Ghana, the outcome tastes like a victory laced with injustice. Holding England scoreless with just two total shots—as recorded by USA TODAY—is a defensive masterclass. Yet, Carlos Queiroz’s fury, as captured by The Independent, is entirely justified. If VAR officials cannot review a clear out-of-box collision by a goalkeeper like Jordan Pickford’s on Prince Abu, the system’s credibility is shot. The tournament consequences for Ghana are profound; two extra points from a converted penalty would have put the Black Stars on the brink of a historic last-16 berth. Instead, they face a nerve-shredding conclusion, knowing they should have already slain one of the tournament's giants.