England should ease past Ghana in Boston. Their 4-2 win over Croatia showed real attacking bite, and the side sits top of Group L after just one game. Ghana grabbed three points too with that narrow win against Panama, yet their recent record looks shaky by comparison.
England arrive with four wins from their last five outings. They hammered Costa Rica 3-0 and edged New Zealand 1-0 before that, though a couple of friendlies against Japan and Uruguay brought mixed results. Ghana have only one victory in five, and heavy defeats to Austria and Germany still linger in the memory. The single previous meeting dates back to 2011 when the sides drew 1-1, so history offers little guidance here.
Harry Kane carries a fitness concern after cramp against Croatia but has been cleared, and Declan Rice returns after a precautionary withdrawal. On the Ghana side Mohammed Kudus remains a doubt with a quad issue while keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi carries a fresh injury worry. Those absences could blunt Ghana's threat in midfield and between the posts.
Expect England to line up in a 4-2-3-1 with Pickford behind James, Konsa, Guehi and O'Reilly. Anderson and Rice anchor the middle while Madueke, Bellingham and Gordon support Kane. Ghana are likely to mirror the shape with Asare in goal, a back four including Djiku and Opoku, and Partey pulling strings where fit. Both teams have attacking options that can hurt tired legs late on.
Kane has already netted twice in the tournament and Bellingham added one against Croatia. Ghana will lean on Kudus if he starts, yet his fitness clouds their plans. England have never lost to an African side at a World Cup, and this fixture carries real weight for knockout qualification in Group L.
Recommended Bets
England -1 Asian handicap @1.85 — Their superior recent form and two-goal win in the opener point to a comfortable margin against a Ghana side missing key personnel.
Over 2.5 goals @2.05 — England's last five games average well over that mark while Ghana conceded five to Austria and two to Germany recently.
Harry Kane anytime goalscorer @1.70 — He has scored twice already in the group and starts as the focal point against a defence missing its first-choice goalkeeper.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
