The performance also reignited debate about England’s attacking options. Anthony Gordon again struggled before being replaced by Bukayo Saka, whose introduction injected some urgency and unpredictability into England’s play, forcing a save from Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare late on.
Marcus Rashford may also be pushing for greater involvement after England’s lack of penetration against a compact defence.
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson provided control but little creativity in midfield, allowing Ghana to remain comfortable for long stretches.
Rice insisted there was no cause for concern.
“We have one more group game to top the group, so we have to be positive,” he said.
England’s emphatic win over Croatia had sparked talk of momentum, belief and the possibility that Tuchel’s new-look side might be finding its stride early.
Ninety minutes against Ghana quickly cooled that enthusiasm.
For the fourth major tournament in succession, England failed to win their second group game, exchanging the exhilaration of a four-goal display for a frustrating stalemate.
The surge of optimism generated by the Croatia victory has been checked, at least temporarily.
And while England remain well-placed to reach the knockout stages, the sense of optimism that followed their opening performance has been replaced by familiar questions about flare, consistency and whether they can break down organised opposition when space is at a