Foxborough (US): England and Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz met again at the World Cup on Tuesday, but this time the outcome was very different.
Queiroz's Ghana side secured a valuable point with a 0-0 draw, frustrating an England team that dominated possession and created several chances.
"Our plan was to block and frustrate them from the first minute," Queiroz said. "We did it".
The result was a sharp contrast to the 6-2 defeat Queiroz suffered as Iran coach against England at the 2022 World Cup.
England outshot Ghana 19-1 but could not find a way through.
"Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up," England midfielder Jude Bellingham said. "They got exactly out of the game what they played for. Couldn't quite break them down, even with all the corners, all the possession, all the shots from distance."
Both teams won their opening matches at this year's tournament, with Ghana beating Panama 1-0 and England defeating Croatia 4-2. Both sides still have work to do in Group L before securing a place in the knockout stage of the first 48-team World Cup.
England were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament. Ghana have not reached the knockout stage since making the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
However, with the expanded format this year, the eight best third-placed teams will also advance, giving both sides a strong chance heading into their final group matches.
England will next face Panama on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ghana will take on Panama at the same time in Philadelphia.
The Three Lions came close to taking the lead in the 86th minute when Nico O'Reilly's header struck the crossbar. Harry Kane collected the rebound but could not get enough power behind his left-footed effort and sent it over the bar.
Ghana's best chance came in the 78th minute when Abdul Fatawu outmuscled England midfielder Eberechi Eze for the ball and raced down the flank. He squared it to Prince Adu, but the forward was challenged from behind by Ezri Konsa before he could get a shot away. Adu appealed for a penalty, but none was awarded.
"It was a clear penalty, if not a red card", Queiroz said. "We have no doubts about that".
England coach Thomas Tuchel said his team were somewhat surprised by Ghana's set-up, with the Black Stars defending in a 4-5-1 formation. He described Ghana as one of the most physical teams he had seen in the tournament.
"They defended with a lot of determination. A lot of discipline", Tuchel said.
Tuchel also rejected suggestions that England were overly dependent on Kane, the striker who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"He was not involved as much as we would have liked, but it was so narrow," Tuchel said. "It was difficult to find space. The little moments that he had were just so unlucky".
England enjoyed 60 per cent possession in the first half but managed only five attempts on goal, with Kane missing a chance inside the box shortly before the interval.
Ghana increased the tempo after the break and created an opportunity in the 50th minute when Marvin Senaya got on the end of a delivery inside the area, but his header lacked power and was comfortably dealt with by the England defence.
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare kept a clean sheet on his World Cup debut.
"I think we did our best to get the best possible result that we were hoping for", Ghana midfielder Kwasi Sibo said. "It was the coach's plan, and we followed it".