Carlos Queiroz didn't hold back. After his Ghana side ground out a 0-0 draw with England at the World Cup, the veteran coach took aim at the one thing that could have changed everything: the video assistant referee.
“VAR went for coffee,” Queiroz snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe they thought the game was a friendly. England got lucky. Very lucky.”
The moment that sparked Queiroz's fury came in the 67th minute. Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana sliced through England's defense, only to be hauled down by Harry Maguire inside the box. The referee waved play on. VAR reviewed. Silence.
Maguire, already on a yellow card, would have seen red for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Penalty to Ghana. Instead, nothing. England escaped with a point they barely deserved.
The Numbers Don't Lie
England dominated possession — 63% — but did little with it. Three shots on target. Ghana had five. The Africans created clearer chances, hit the post through Mohammed Kudus, and forced Jordan Pickford into two sharp saves.
“We were the better team,” Queiroz said. “But when you play against 12 men, it's difficult.”
Harsh? Maybe. But the data backs him up. Expected goals: Ghana 1.4, England 0.7. That's not a fluke. That's a team that outplayed its opponent and got robbed by a referee who couldn't see what 60,000 fans in the stadium saw.
England's Lucky Escape
Gareth Southgate looked relieved at the final whistle. He knows his side got away with one. “We didn't play well enough,” he admitted. “We have to be better.”
Better? They were static. Harry Kane dropped deep but found no space. Phil Foden disappeared for long stretches. Jude Bellingham tried to spark something but was smothered by Ghana's midfield — Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus ran the show.
England's biggest problem? They looked scared. Scared to lose. Scared to attack. Scared of the Ghanaian press that suffocated them all night.
“They didn't come to play,” Queiroz said. “They came not to lose. There's a difference.”
VAR: The Shadow Over the Tournament
This isn't the first time VAR has infuriated a manager this World Cup. But it might be the most blatant miss. The incident happened in plain sight. The referee, Ismail Elfath of the USA, had a clear view. He chose not to call it.
VAR officials in the booth — led by compatriot Armando Villarreal — took a look and decided not to overturn. Why? FIFA hasn't explained. They rarely do.
“It's not about the result,” Queiroz said, softening slightly. “It's about fairness. If VAR is there, use it. Or don't have it at all.”
He's right. VAR was supposed to eliminate howlers like this one. Instead, it creates new controversies. The technology works. The people don't.
What This Means for Both Teams
England sits second in Group D with four points, behind leaders Ghana on goal difference. A win against Costa Rica should secure top spot. But if they play like this again, they might not even advance.
Ghana, meanwhile, proved they belong. After beating Costa Rica 3-1 in their opener, this performance showed they can go toe-to-toe with a European powerhouse. They're dangerous. They're organized. And they've got a manager who won't back down.
“We fear no one,” Queiroz said. “England got a point. We got respect. I'll take that.”
But he shouldn't. His team deserved more. Three points would have put them in the driver's seat. Instead, they share the lead with a team that should have been down to ten men.
The Verdict
VAR went for coffee. England went for a draw. And football got it wrong again.
Queiroz will fume about this for days. Maybe years. And he should. In a tournament where every moment matters, the system failed. Ghana didn't lose. But they didn't win either. And that's the tragedy.
