Thomas Tuchel has urged England fans not to lose belief in the team after a controversial penalty decision helped the Three Lions secure a 2-1 victory over Ghana in the World Cup round of 16. The German manager acknowledged the frustration of the Ghanaian side but insisted that England deserved to progress.
Controversial Penalty Sparks Fury
The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when referee Wilton Sampaio awarded England a penalty for a foul by Ghana defender Daniel Amartey on Bukayo Saka. Replays showed minimal contact, sparking outrage from the Ghanaian players and coaching staff. Ghana captain Thomas Partey said after the match: "We feel cheated. That decision changed the game. We deserved at least extra time."
Tuchel, however, defended the call, stating: "I understand their frustration, but from my angle it was a clear foul. Saka was clever to draw the contact. We have to move on." The penalty was converted by Harry Kane, his 12th goal in World Cup tournaments.
Tuchel Calls for Unity
Speaking to the media after the match, Tuchel addressed concerns about England's performance, which saw them fall behind to a first-half strike from Ghana's Mohammed Kudus. "I know the fans expect more, but we are still in the tournament. We need their support now more than ever. Don't lose belief," Tuchel said.
England equalised through a Jude Bellingham header just before half-time, before Kane's penalty sealed the win. Tuchel praised the resilience of his side: "We showed character to come back. It was not our best performance, but we found a way to win."
Ghana's Frustration Boils Over
Ghana coach Chris Hughton was visibly angry at the final whistle, confronting the referee on the pitch. "It was a disgraceful decision. We worked so hard and it was taken away from us by a mistake," Hughton said. The Ghana Football Association later confirmed they would file an official complaint with FIFA over the officiating.
Statistically, Ghana had 14 shots to England's 10 and 52% possession, leading many to argue they were unlucky not to force extra time. The defeat ends Ghana's run, which had included a surprise group-stage victory over Portugal.
England Look Ahead to Quarter-Final
England will now face France in the quarter-finals, a rematch of the 2022 quarter-final which France won 2-1. Tuchel acknowledged the challenge ahead: "France are the defending champions. We will need to be much better than tonight. But we have the quality to beat them."
The Three Lions will be without midfielder Declan Rice, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament and will serve a suspension. Kalvin Phillips is expected to replace him.
Despite the controversy, Tuchel remains focused on the task at hand: "We are in the last eight. That is where we want to be. Now we must prepare properly for France."
