Queiroz after the draw with England: Ghana took an important point, but VAR remains the main topic
Carlos Queiroz reacted heatedly, but also consciously with a dose of sarcasm, to the refereeing after England and Ghana played 0:0 on 23 June 2026 in a Group L match at the World Cup. The Ghana head coach claimed that his team had been wronged in the second half, above all in the situation in which Ezri Konsa slid in toward Prince Kwabena Adu in England's penalty area, and the referee did not point to the penalty spot. According to the transcript published by the Ghana Football Association, Queiroz said after the match that he was “not sure whether VAR is still working at the World Cup”, and then added that the video assistant referee “was on holiday” and had “gone for coffee” at the moments when Ghana needed a review.
The goalless draw was not only a refereeing story. Against one of the strongest national teams in the tournament, Ghana played an extremely disciplined match, survived long periods of English possession and kept realistic hopes of progressing from the group. England, according to Fox Sports statistics, had 78 percent possession, 19 shots at goal and nine corners, but hit the target only four times. Ghana, on the other hand, had two shots, one on target and only 22 percent possession, but with clean organization, a large number of blocks and 43 clearances, they defended a point that could be decisive in the final stage of the group.
The controversial ending was marked by the duel between Konsa and Adu
The most discussion was caused by a late run from Prince Adu, who came off the bench and brought more depth to Ghana's transition. In one of Ghana's most dangerous situations, Adu escaped behind the English defence, and Konsa slid in while trying to prevent the finish. Queiroz claimed that the contact was enough for a penalty and a red card, while the on-field decision remained unchanged. According to Sky Sports' report, Konsa was lucky that England were not punished with a penalty, and the broadcast assessed that a similar situation “on another day” could be sanctioned.
In the same press conference, Queiroz also referred to an earlier contact by Jordan Pickford with Adu, considering that this action too could have had more serious consequences for England. According to available information, FIFA did not publicly announce after the match that it questioned the decisions of the refereeing team, nor did it announce any extraordinary procedure related to the match. Therefore, for now the debate remains in the space of coaching reactions, media analyses and fan interpretations of footage, and not in an official challenge to the result.
The IFAB protocol for video assistant referees stipulates that VAR may intervene only in the case of a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident in several categories, among which are a goal, penalty kick, direct red card and mistaken identity. The final decision is made by the main referee, and the video assistant referee may recommend a review when he assesses that there is a basis for changing the decision on the field. It is precisely that threshold, the boundary between “contact” and a “clear error”, that is the reason why similar situations are often the subject of heated debates even after the match has ended.
Ghana defended the plan, England were left without a solution
According to the official announcement by the Ghana Football Association, Queiroz described the match as a duel of two different styles. In the first half, England had the ball and tried to build attacks through Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and wide positions, while Ghana closed spaces, defended the centre and slowed the rhythm. The Ghana head coach said that the plan was to block English mechanisms, from diagonal balls to wing penetrations and set pieces, and that his team succeeded in doing so “on all fronts”.
The Ghana association stated that Queiroz made four changes compared with the 1:0 victory against Panama, and Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare and Kwasi Sibo entered the starting line-up. Benjamin Asare replaced Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, while Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku and Gideon Mensah remained in the back line. Such an arrangement brought Ghana additional solidity in the middle, and the trio of Partey, Sibo and Caleb Yirenkyi had an important role in closing the space in front of the defence.
England had the best chance of the first half through Harry Kane in the 34th minute, but Asare saved the close-range attempt, the Ghana Football Association states. After the break, Anthony Gordon directed one of England's first more concrete shots on target, while later Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford tried to change the tempo by coming off the bench. Ghana had their biggest chance after a little more than an hour of play, when Inaki Williams escaped John Stones and forced Pickford into a reaction, and Antoine Semenyo sent the rebound over the goal.
Possession was not enough for an English breakthrough
The numbers clearly show how asymmetrical the match was in possession, but not in scoring efficiency. According to Fox Sports, England had 95 percent passing accuracy, 12 created chances and 32 crosses, of which five were successful. Ghana had 70 percent passing accuracy, not a single officially recorded created chance and five crosses without a successful outcome. Still, the difference in statistics did not turn into a difference on the scoreboard, which Queiroz used as an argument that football is not only a game of possession.
Queiroz, according to the Ghana Football Association transcript, emphasized that football is not played only with the ball, but also with courage, concentration, intelligence and readiness to defend when necessary. His message was clear: Ghana did not come to play a passive match, but to take points against an opponent who is counted among the candidates for a high placing. Such an approach was seen in the number of blocks, in closing down the second ball and in the willingness of the forwards to work for a long time without many opportunities to finish.
England, according to Sky Sports' report, again had a problem in the second group match, which fits into a broader pattern from major tournaments in which they struggled to break down low-positioned opponents after a good opening to the competition. Thomas Tuchel's team came into the match with Ghana after a 4:2 victory against Croatia, but did not find the same level of verticality or rhythm. Ghana, meanwhile, after a 1:0 victory against Panama, showed that they can combine defensive discipline with occasional moves into fast transition.
Benjamin Asare received special praise
Although Queiroz usually avoids singling out individuals, after the match he especially praised goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. The Ghana Football Association conveyed his assessment that Asare was “brilliant”, especially because of his composure in the moments when England tried to create pressure through crosses and long-range shots. A clean sheet against an attack that included Kane, Bellingham, Gordon, Saka and Rashford had both tactical and psychological value for Ghana.
But the head coach simultaneously emphasized that the point was not based on one player. According to his words, Ghana can win some matches with eleven players, but cannot achieve a serious tournament result if it does not have the whole group ready to fulfil obligations. That is why after the match he spoke about 26 players who are ready to perform, about players who work for one another and about a common goal that goes beyond individual statistics. In a match in which possession was strongly on England's side, it was precisely Ghana's collective structure that was the key reason for the 0:0.
Group L remains open ahead of the final round
After the draw, England and Ghana have four points each from two matches, while Croatia, with a victory against Panama, remained in the race for progression. Panama, after two defeats, are in a significantly more difficult position, and the final round will decide the standings and potential opponents in the first knockout round. According to the formats listed by FIFA, at the 2026 World Cup the two best national teams from each of the 12 groups progress, as do the eight best third-placed teams, which means that not only progression is being decided, but also position in the wider knockout-stage schedule.
Ghana play Croatia in the final round, and the Ghana Football Association in its announcements after the match lists 28 June as the date of that match. Queiroz said that his team has not won anything yet and is only “on the way” toward the main goal, that is, progression to the next round. Such a statement shows caution after a big point, but also awareness that defeat in the last round could change the whole picture of the group. England will seek confirmation of progression against Panama in the closing stage of the group and try to avoid additional complications in the standings.
In the wider context of the tournament, the draw between Ghana and England is a reminder that the expanded World Cup format increases the number of different scenarios in the groups. A point against a favourite can have great value, especially for a team that underwent a change on the bench before the tournament. Queiroz, according to the Ghana Football Association announcement from April 2026, took over the national team with great international experience, including work with Portugal, Iran, Egypt, Oman, Qatar and a club episode at Real Madrid, as well as a long-standing role at Manchester United. His signature on this match was visible in the way Ghana accepted long periods of defending, but did not lose faith that they could threaten.
The VAR debate will not change the result, but it can shape the impression of the match
Queiroz's statements about VAR will probably continue to live longer than the match statistics themselves. They were sharp enough to open the question of criteria, but ironic enough for the head coach to present them as a joke in order to avoid potential disciplinary consequences. According to the Ghana Football Association transcript, he himself said that he apologized for the sarcasm and that, if he said the same thing seriously, he could be punished. In doing so, he simultaneously sent a message to opponents, referees and his own dressing room: Ghana believe they could have got more, but accept the point as the result of a great effort.
For England, the match is a warning that control of the game alone does not guarantee a way through a well-organized block. For Ghana, it is confirmation that they can remain competitive even when the opponent dictates almost all statistical categories. For referees and the VAR system, it is another example of how decisions in the penalty area, especially when they include speed, contact and a possible continuation of play, remain the most sensitive part of modern football. Until the final round, the most important question for Queiroz, however, will not be a retrospective of refereeing decisions, but the recovery of the team and preparation for the match with Croatia that may determine Ghana's entire tournament.
Sources:
- FIFA – report and basic context of the England - Ghana match at the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- FIFA – explanation of the group format and progression to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. (link)
- Ghana Football Association – official report on Ghana's draw with England in Group L. (link)
- Ghana Football Association – transcript of Queiroz's statements after the match, including comments about VAR. (link)
- Ghana Football Association – Queiroz's statements about Benjamin Asare and Ghana's collective play. (link)
- Ghana Football Association – announcement of Carlos Queiroz's appointment as Ghana head coach for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (link)
- Fox Sports – statistics of the England - Ghana match, including possession, shots, corners and defensive indicators. (link)
- Sky Sports – report and analysis of key moments of the match, including the controversial situation with Ezri Konsa. (link)
- IFAB – official VAR protocol and criteria for video assistant referee intervention. (link)