After their thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia, England are back in action this evening as they take on Ghana in Boston.
They are on the hunt for a spot in the knockouts and victory tonight would virtually confirm their progression.
Ghana boast a number of threats, including Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, but are ranked 73rd in the world – 58 places below Croatia.
There have been lingering injury concerns for Bukayo Saka (Achilles), Marcus Rashford (hamstring) and Declan Rice (hamstring), but all three featured in training before the game.
Could the Three Lions be set for a perfect group stage? They play their final group match against Panama on Saturday.
Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates below.
‘Spence has chance to impress’
Less than four years ago, Djed Spence’s confidence was “shattered” when then Tottenham manager Antonio Conte intimated he didn’t want to sign him and said he was an “investment by the club”.
A loan to Genoa followed and it looked as if there was no way back.
Had you predicted then that he would be starting at the World Cup for England, most people would have laughed.
He got his spot in this squad through his versatility – he has played largely on the left for Spurs of late despite being a right-back by trade – but Thomas Tuchel rates him for his forward-thinking too. In what could be a real problem position for England he has a chance to impress.
Team news – Guehi and Spence start ahead of Stones and O’Reilly
England’s starting line-up has been confirmed, with Marc Guehi and Djed Spence both starting for the Three Lions.
They replace Nico O’Reilly and John Stones.
There were injury concerns surrounding Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice, but Rice starts and the other two are on the bench.
England XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Subs: O’Reilly, Stones, Saka, Rashford, Chalobah, D. Henderson, J. Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Trafford, Quansah.
The #ThreeLions make two changes for our game against Ghana
— England (@England) June 23, 2026pic.twitter.com/pNOtNzOxIo
Ghana XI: Asare, Adjetey, Mensah, Opoku, Senaya, Yirenkyi, Partey, Sibo, Semenyo, Ayew, Williams.
Subs: Zigi, Anang, Seidu, Mumin, Rahman, Oppong, Luckassen, Owusu, Boakye, Fatawu, Thomas-Asante, Baah, Sulemana, Nuamah, Adu.
Can England’s alpha Rice tap into superstar vibe?
My hamstrings are pinging at the thought of Declan Rice galloping about Boston for game No 64 of the season while nursing a threadbare bicep femoris. Especially with a fast start promised. Cristiano Ronaldo has set the tone for the evening with two goals for Portugal against Uzbeikstan. Can England’s alpha tap into the superstar vibe?
Tonight’s opponents analysed
Winless in six games, including a 1-1 friendly draw with Wales earlier this month, Ghana were out of form heading into the World Cup – sparking a managerial change.
Enter Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Manchester United assistant, who has travelled the world and then some, managing (deep breath) Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, Iran again, Qatar and then Oman since 2008.
Queiroz will lean heavily on Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, the winger who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best players, although they are without winger Mohammed Kudus due to injury, likewise Mohammed Salisu and Alexander Djiku, meaning they arrived in North America under strength.
Nevertheless, they were able to win their opening group game 1-0 against Panama on Wednesday night thanks to 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi’s injury-time winner. Semenyo and captain Jordan Ayew were largely underwhelming, but the Black Stars’ defence impressed, keeping a clean sheet despite Panama recording more shots on target and enjoying more possession.
As for Thomas Partey, despite the former Arsenal midfielder being denied entry into Canada for the match with Panama – the 32-year-old faces a trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault – he is set to face England in Boston.
The awkward truth about England fans at the World Cup
It was some sight as the controversial “Ten German Bombers” song rang through the concourses at the AT&T Stadium.
A big group of England fans were bouncing along while singing but an even bigger crowd – mostly of bemused but fascinated locals – had gathered to film it.
Peeling away from the crowd a smiling Becky Williams, from nearby Arlington, told me she hadn’t realised the song was controversial but she didn’t regret getting it on camera.
“I can’t believe how crazy you all are. The last time I was here was for Beyonce and it was a very different crowd. I’ve never seen anything like it – and I love it.”
At a World Cup like no other, the booze-fuelled invasion of up to 15,000 England fans prepared to max out their credit cards appears to be capturing the imagination of the locals.
From watching rodeo to queuing round the block for the famous Terry Black’s barbecue, hospitable Texans seem to enjoy hosting the English.
Guehi and Spence set to start ahead of Stones and O’Reilly
Reporting from Gillette Stadium:
So the word on the ground here in Boston is that there are two changes for England – Marc Guehi and Djed Spence are coming in for Nico O’Reilly and John Stones.
Hearing here that the thinking is they will add more mobility against a team that counter attacks very well.
Thomas Tuchel is not a big one for focusing on the strength of the opposition but it does feel like he’s pivoted here to cope with the Ghana threat.
Declan Rice’s injury is a blessing in disguise for England
So the indefatigable Declan Rice is not, it turns out, indefatigable at all. How could anyone be after 63 games and counting in the past 11 months?
Rice has only one speed, full gas. The revelation that he has been managing a delicate hamstring since Christmas, which accounted for his 72nd-minute substitution against Croatia, introduces an unwanted variable for Thomas Tuchel.
Though Rice insists he is ready to go against Ghana in England’s second match, Tuchel will want to protect against the pernicious threat of a fully blown hamstring, which is clearly a risk and would be terminal at this tournament.
The idea of resting Rice, whilst anathema to most, might actually represent an opportunity for Tuchel, a chance to accelerate the development of England into a team that controls as well as ransacks the opposition.
Read more here
The straight-talking Scouser ridding England of Southgate’s nice-guy culture
Football managers need more media duties like a hole in the head. There are now so many pre-match and post-match interviews to contend with that coaches at the highest level barely have time to think.
So when Fifa requested that someone be put up for interview during the half-time interval of World Cup matches, England manager Thomas Tuchel rightly insisted he be kept clear of them.
Nations have been using an unused substitute or a member of the backroom staff to fulfil the requirement.
Tuchel’s most trusted confidant Anthony Barry drew the short straw for England’s group opener against Croatia.r
An arduous formality, assistant head coach Barry was expected to just get through them, throw in some space-filling cliches, and move on.
His damning assessment of England’s first-half against Croatia instead has won him an army of admirers back across the pond and within the camp.
Read more here
Welcome
England’s World Cup campaign began with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia. It’s time for it to continue.
Tonight, the Three Lions are in Boston to take on Ghana for their second group-stage game at the 2026 World Cup.
They have the chance to book their place in the last 32, with a win tonight confirming their progression to the knockouts.
We will be here to guide you through all of tonight’s action.
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