England v Ghana LIVE: VAR ‘on holiday’ as ‘lucky’ England react to World Cup setback

England then got away with one again shortly after.

With Prince Adu sent in behind once more after Eberechi Eze was shoulder-barged off the ball, Ezri Konsa made a last-ditch lunging challenge to thwart the Viktoria Plzen player but got none of the ball, wrapping his leg around and making contact with Adu’s knee, who then went down.

After a scramble to clear the ball ended in the offside flag going up, there was no sign of a VAR check taking place to review the incident and play resumed shortly after with an England free-kick.

In a game that lacked forward inspiration for either team, Ghana looked to break on the counter in the 67th minute as substitute Prince Kwabena Adu surged towards the box, chasing a forward ball.

Pickford rushed out of his area in a bid to get there first but instead collided with Adu as there pair went in for a 50/50 challenge.

While both men had the right to challenge for the ball, it looked like Pickford had committed the foul, clattering into Adu after the Ghana midfielder made an attempt to touch the ball, which had by the point of contact ran just past Pickford.

But in a huge reprieve for England, referee Saíd Martínez of Honduras awarded the free-kick in favour of Pickford, who picked up a knock on the shin in the process.

Ante Budimir’s second-half goal kept Croatia’s hopes of progressing to the latter stages alive but knocked out Panama, ahead of their final group-stage clash against England

The surge isn’t sustained, but it means another more dour trend is continued. For the fourth tournament in a row, England draw their second game.

Momentum is stalled, expectation drops back again. They weren’t looking like champions in this one. Thomas Tuchel hasn’t changed everything yet. Far from it. Nothing he did seemed to change the game here. Ghana were excellent value for a 0-0 draw, with a supremely disciplined defensive performance. And while Tuchel raged, Carlos Queiroz was punching the air with his delighted players. They celebrated this like a win, and it still could have been that.

Jude Bellingham questioned why he was named player of the match in England’s drab goalless draw against Ghana at the World Cup.

A standout performer and goalscorer in England’s opening win against Croatia, Bellingham struggled to impact the game in Boston as Ghana stayed solid in their deep defensive shape.

Bellingham was substituted for No 10 rival Morgan Rogers with 20 minutes to go and the Real Madrid midfielder, having been named as a surprise recipient of the player of the match award, admitted it was another case of “second game fever” for the Three Lions, who have now drawn their second group game in their last four major tournaments.

“I’m not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup. We still have VAR? It’s working?

“I have some doubts about that because another penalty that they need give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England (was missed). We had our chances to the point that they’re lucky. They’re very lucky.

“Once again, VAR went for a coffee. It’s natural, I would like to also take my coffees once in a while, but it was a clear penalty, red card.

“You have any doubts about that? You guys who saw the game have any doubts about that or is it only me that was in the game?

“At the end of the day, that’s why I say it was a fair result. They play more time with the ball, we fight more, we fight better, we create our chances, they have chances at the end.

“I think they are happy and I am happy also with the draw. I’m sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say these kind of things seriously they punish me, so I hope you understand that I’m joking.”