England took on the team ranked 65th in FIFA's Coca-Cola rankings but coughed and spluttered to a 0-0 draw
Lewis Hall of Newcastle United
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It had always been a controversial call to leave Lewis Hall at home while England fought for the World Cup - but the debate raged on after this stalemate in Foxborough!
Hall can only watch on and wonder as England's summer unfolds without him here in the United States, amid a lack of creativity on the left-hand side. Overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup party that jetted across the Atlantic a few weeks ago, Hall's thoughts on Djed Spence getting the nod ahead of Nico O'Reilly against Ghana will be interesting.
Hall has been constantly in the headlines since the season ended, through no fault of his own it has to be said.
Much has been made about Hall's links with Man United, but we understand that there was a suspicion that somebody was trying to stir the pot with Eddie Howe and the full-back he took from Chelsea reserves into the England squad. Newcastle were absolutely furious with those stories and asked for a retraction, but there is thought to be something in Man United's interest, even if there hasn't been an approach or bid.
As it is, he will report back to pre-season training on July 13 having sat at home watching England's left-sided options. Spence in particular struggled against Ghana.
Before the game, Tuchel said: "Djed just to be a bit more defensive and faster, more defensive to control the counter-attacks." In fairness, the Tottenham star started OK before fizzling out a bit against Ghana and caused some early danger down the flank after linking up well with Declan Rice.
England manager Thomas Tuchel with Djed Spence during the game against Ghana at Boston Stadium
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Spence had enjoyed 18 touches down the left by the midway point of the first half without any real end product, and Hall will be thinking he could have brought something to this summer-long Transatlantic party.
The Spurs full-back then got Gordon away on 35 minutes, but the Scouser's cross was easily cleared as England lacked sharpness when it mattered. As England struggled to find width and do anything worth writing home about on the overlap, the thorny subject of Hall's omission from the squad returned to the social media scene.
The second half began with Spence and Gordon given another chance to develop some type of understanding, and with the Press box behind the goal on that side, it offered a bird's eye view of the duo's efforts.
Marvin Senaya eased Gordon off the ball on 50 minutes, and there was a minor scare for England as issues persisted down the left flank. At least Gordon managed England's first effort on target on 57 minutes, but unfortunately, it was easy for Ghana stopper Benjamin Asare to gather.
As the second half wore on, Tuchel's frustration with the duo became clear as he berated the pair down the left and told some of the subs to warm up.
Nico O'Rreilly and Djed Spence of England during the World Cup Group L match against Ghana
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The experiment was over by minute 65 as both Gordon and Spence were hauled off and replaced by O'Reilly and Bukayo Saka for the remaining 25 minutes. It resulted in Saka being pushed to the right and Noni Madueke switching to the left-hand side of the field.
Little wonder the boos cascaded down high from the high stands in Foxborough when the final hydration break of the afternoon was announced.
Madueke didn't last long out there as he was replaced by Marcus Rashford within 18 minutes as Tuchel turned to Plan C.
England piled pressure on the Ghana goal late on but could not find a way past the keeper with O'Reilly's header clattering the woodwork. But England didn't create anywhere close to enough. Whether you can put that firmly down to Hall's absence is debatable, but he wouldn't have done Tuchel's side any harm in Boston.