Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly came off the bench to impress in England's World Cup game with Ghana
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 23: England's Nico O'Reilly hits the bar with a header late in the game during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Ghana at Boston Stadium on June 23, 2026 in Boston, United States. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Nico O'Reilly gave England more attacking intent against Ghana
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Despite being dropped to the bench, England's second game of the World Cup turned out to be much better for Nico O'Reilly. Coming on in the final stage of the game, the Manchester City player showed he could play incisive passes in the final third as well as getting into the box with a header that crashed back off the post.
It is more evidence for England manager Thomas Tuchel that O'Reilly needs to be a part of their plans for the rest of the tournament. Having stepped up to become a major influence for Pep Guardiola in the Premier League, international football is not proving a step too far for the Collyhurst youngster.
That cameo against Ghana may have complicated Tuchel's thinking though. The obvious suggestion would be to bring O'Reilly straight in for Tottenham's Djed Spence, given he offered more than him going forward in much less time.
However, Spence and Marc Guehi appeared to have been brought back in to deal with counter-attacks after O'Reilly had looked flaky in the opening win over Croatia. It was Anthony Gordon who lost his man on that left side for Ghana's best chance of the game, and otherwise England were solid.
O'Reilly still feels like the best bet at left-back for the rest of the tournament, particularly given there is no Lewis Hall in the squad to offer competition. Aside from speed - and even then it's a pretty close battle - and more experience of being a defender, O'Reilly is ahead in every category.
But his work further forward late in the game may have put ideas into Tuchel's head to use him as one of England's finishers rather than starters, using his energy later in the game to overpower tired defences and create more chances in the opposition box. Much was made of how well the substitutes did in the first game against Croatia, and O'Reilly was the pick of the bunch against Ghana.
Speaking earlier in the week, O'Reilly spoke of how he still sees midfield as where he will end up playing. "I think in the future I will be back in midfield," he said. "My profile, everything fits there and maybe a box to box midfielder but left-back I have been enjoying it and it has got me here now to a World Cup."
Tuchel will have to consider how O'Reilly's profile fits into the England team for this tournament as he looks to put all of the pieces together. One thing that is clear from Tuesday night is that the 21-year-old definitely needs to be a key part of it.