Jude Bellingham appeared visibly displeased after receiving the Man of the Match award following England's 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday, admitting he felt the honor should have gone to a Ghanaian player.
Despite England dominating possession with nearly 80 percent, they struggled to break down Ghana's defense. Nico O'Reilly hit the crossbar and Harry Kane missed a close-range opportunity, resulting in England settling for a single point. Bellingham was substituted midway through the second half before being recognized with the award.
"I didn't deserve it, to be honest," Bellingham said after the match. "It probably should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well."
This result marked the fourth consecutive major tournament where England failed to win their second group stage match. Bellingham commented on this trend, referring to it as "second game fever."
Manager Thomas Tuchel and his players acknowledged the strength of Ghana's defense, which limited England to just three shots on target. "They played for a draw, which could have seen them go through. Fair play to them. They did a great job," Bellingham added.
During the first half, Bellingham was involved in an exchange with Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, after a late challenge on Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku. The incident, which did not result in a yellow card for Bellingham, led to a heated argument on the touchline, with Queiroz's staff intervening. Queiroz later told ITV that Bellingham had a "bad reaction with some bad names."
The draw keeps England at the top of Group L. Their next match is against Panama on Saturday in New Jersey.
England captain Harry Kane urged the squad to "stay positive" heading into their final group game. "It was one of those games against a difficult team to break down," Kane said. "We wanted the win but we take the point. We're in a great position and we're playing Panama next so hopefully we can finish with a win and finish top."