The Ghana World Cup schedule stayed open on Tuesday, June 23, after England and Ghana played to a 0-0 draw in Group L. Both sides moved closer to the Round of 32, but neither left with a guaranteed place.
The draw also kept Group L undecided. The winner will be decided on the final day of group play, and England and Ghana both need a result on that next step to avoid leaving their fate to the rest of the group.
England and Ghana
England can clinch a spot in the Round of 32 with a win against Ghana. It can also win Group L if it beats Ghana and Panama loses or draws against Croatia.
A draw against Ghana does not clinch a knockout-round place for England. That leaves the match against Ghana as more than a chance to improve position; it is still the cleanest path to the next round.
Group L and Group K
Ghana has the same basic path. A win against England would clinch a spot in the Round of 32, and Ghana would win Group L with a win against England provided Croatia loses or draws against Panama.
A draw against England does not clinch a knockout-round place for Ghana. That is the complication in Group L: both teams are closer, but neither has finished the job after the scoreless result.
Croatia and Panama
Tuesday’s other Group L match also matters to the table. Croatia can be eliminated with a loss to Panama if Ghana draws or wins against England, while Panama can be eliminated with a loss to Croatia if England draws or wins against Ghana.
With those possibilities still live, the result in England and Ghana did not settle the group. It pushed the decision to the final day, where the last set of group matches will sort out who goes on and who stops here.
