Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has hit back at criticism of the Three Lions following their goalless draw with Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging supporters and pundits to back the team instead of overreacting.
England were held 0-0 by Ghana in their second Group L match after opening the tournament with a 4-2 win over Croatia.
The result triggered debate over Thomas Tuchel’s team selection, with some critics suggesting the absence of players such as Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Morgan Gibbs-White may have contributed to England’s lack of creativity.
Ferdinand, however, defended the team and questioned the speed at which opinion had shifted around Tuchel.
Ferdinand wrote on social media: “Here we go again…. Tuchel after Croatia game was a genius, then after Ghana game he’s picked the wrong players.”
The former Manchester United defender also urged the public to focus on England’s position in the group rather than the reaction to one result.
“4 points – just relax and support the team & manager for god’s sake!” he added.
Former England striker Michael Owen also called for a more measured response, saying the team remained in a strong position with four points from two matches.
“We all need to calm down a little when it comes to the reaction to England’s goalless draw with Ghana.
“I’ve been there, I’ve lived it, and one game this early in the World Cup changes nothing,” Owen said.
He acknowledged that the performance was below expectations but insisted it should not be treated as a major setback.
He said: “I woke up to a lot of negativity on Wednesday, but I really think we need a bit of perspective here.
“Was it a brilliant performance? No. Was it disappointing? Of course. But some of the fallout would have you believe England’s challenge has fallen apart overnight.
“Having played in three World Cups, I can tell you that tournaments simply don’t work like that.”
Despite the criticism, England remain top of Group L and are well placed to qualify for the knockout stage of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Tuchel’s side will face Panama in their final group game on Saturday, knowing a positive result should be enough to secure top spot in the group.
