England best chance came minute 86. From right-wing cross, Nico O’Reilly headed against bar. Ball bounced to Kane. England striker shot over bar from under five meters, unmarked.
"99 times out of 100 he scores there," Tuchel said after match at Gillette Stadium, Boston, US, June 23.
Kane misses close-range shot in England 0-0 draw against Ghana, Group L, World Cup 2026 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Boston, US, June 23, 2026. Photo: AP
Advertisement
Kane is England's big hope at World Cup 2026. In opening match, he scored twice to help home team beat Croatia 4-2, equaling legend Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for Three Lions. Kane also became second English player to score in three World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026), after David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006).
However, against Ghana, Kane and teammates struggled against tight defense. England shot 19 times, but only three on target. "First, big respect to Ghana," Tuchel said. "They defended with determination, discipline, and showed one of strongest defensive performances I have seen."
51-year-old manager admitted fans might feel disappointed when team failed to replicate fluid attacking play from Croatia win, but hoped they keep faith. England held 78.8% possession—highest World Cup stat (since 1966) for non-scoring team.
"If team tries to play against deep block without finding space, creating chances looks difficult. We want to entertain fans, but today was not easy. Hope they do not lose faith, long way to go," Tuchel added.
*Kane's miss.
According to Tuchel, England had enough set-piece chances to win, but lacked finishing sharpness. Former Chelsea and PSG manager also praised England's counter-pressing, believing team took more positives than negatives from draw. "I know it was not pretty, but reaction to losing ball was good. Tried to attack more in second half but could not break through," Tuchel said.
German manager analyzed that current tournament system with more teams and matches forces pragmatic approach. He has ideas to improve England's central attack, but kept them secret to avoid giving opponents advantage.
In final group match, 4:00 AM June 28 (Hanoi time), England face Panama at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
World Cup 2026 Standings
Group L Matches +/- Points [1
Mexico](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/mexico-16)
2
3
**6**[2
South Korea](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/han-quoc-17)
2
0
**3**[3
Czech Republic](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ch-czech-770)
2
-1
**1**[4
South Africa](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nam-phi-1531)
2
-2
**1**[1
Canada](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/canada-5529)
2
6
**4**[2
Switzerland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-si-15)
2
3
**4**[3
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
2
-3
**1**[4
Qatar](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/qatar-1569)
2
-6
**1**[1
Brazil](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/brazil-6)
2
3
**4**[2
Morocco](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/morocco-31)
2
1
**4**[3
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
2
0
**3**[4
Haiti](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/haiti-2386) 2 -4 0[1
USA](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/my-2384)
2
5
**6**[2
Australia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/australia-20)
2
0
**3**[3
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
2
-2
**3**[4
Turkey](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tho-nhi-ky-777)
2
-3
**0**[1
Germany](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/duc-25)
2
7
**6**[2
Ivory Coast](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-bien-nga-1501)
2
0
**3**[3
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
2
-1
**1**[4
Curaçao](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/curacao-5530)
2
-6
**1**[1
Netherlands](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ha-lan-1118)
2
4
**4**[2
Japan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nhat-ban-12)
2
4
**4**[3
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
2
0
**3**[4
Tunisia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tunisia-28)
2
-8
**0**[1
Egypt](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ai-cap-32)
2
2
**4**[2
Iran](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iran-22)
2
0
**2**[3
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[4
New Zealand](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/new-zealand-4673)
2
-2
**1**[1
Spain](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tay-ban-nha-9)
2
4
**4**[2
Uruguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uruguay-7)
2
0
**2**[3
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[4
Saudi Arabia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/saudi-arabia-23)
2
-4
**1**[1
France](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/phap-2)
2
5
**6**[2
Norway](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/na-uy-1090)
2
4
**6**[3
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**[4
Iraq](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iraq-1567)
2
-6
**0**[1
Argentina](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/argentina-26)
2
5
**6**[2
Austria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ao-775)
2
0
**3**[3
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532)
2
-2
**3**[4
Jordan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/jordan-1548) 2 -3 0[1
Colombia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/colombia-8)
2
3
**6**[2
Portugal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-dao-nha-27)
2
5
**4**[3
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
2
-1
**1**[4
Uzbekistan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uzbekistan-1568)
2
-7
**0**[1
England](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/anh-10)
2
2
**4**[2
Ghana](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ghana-1504)
2
1
**4**[3
Croatia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/croatia-3)
2
-1
**3**[4
Panama](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/panama-11)
2
-2
**0**[1
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
2
0
**3**[2
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
2
0
**3**[3
Croatia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/croatia-3)
2
-1
**3**[4
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532)
2
-2
**3**[5
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
2
-2
**3**[6
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[7
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[8
Czech Republic](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ch-czech-770)
2
-1
**1**[9
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
2
-1
**1**[10
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
2
-1
**1**[11
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
2
-3
**1**[12
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**
Champion Best player Top scorer
Remaining prediction time: 21 days
Kane silent in England's draw
England held nearly 80% possession, but were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in the second match of Group L at the 2026 World Cup. 66
Tuchel: 'Must beat Spain to win the World Cup'
Coach Thomas Tuchel views Spain as the team to beat in the title race, rather than France, Argentina, or Portugal. 51
Boateng: 'FIFA should ban Harry Kane's penalty style'
Former player Kevin-Prince Boateng proposed banning Harry Kane's stutter-step penalty run-up technique, after the England striker admitted to actively using this method to force goalkeepers off their line early. 38
Kane criticized for only scoring against weak opponents
Former player Dietmar Hamann believes Harry Kane's goal-scoring record at the World Cup is not convincing enough, and doubts the striker's ability to lead England to the championship. 78
Tuchel prompts FIFA to change national anthem protocol rules
FIFA adjusted pre-match protocols after coach Thomas Tuchel complained about having his view blocked by photographers during the national anthems before England's win over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. 16
Coach Tuchel praises trio Kane, Bellingham, Rashford
Coach Thomas Tuchel praised Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford for all making an impact in England's 4-2 win over Croatia in the opening match of Group L at the 2026 World Cup. 14