Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson played for the second successive game at the 2026 World Cup as England drew with Ghana.
The 0-0 draw saw England ride their luck at times, with Anderson unable to really impact his probing passing against a dogged African outfit determined to play anti-football.
🔢Fill in the gap: Elliot Anderson was __/10 vs Ghana
Anderson played for the second time at a major tournament for England!
Forest fans know that Anderson can play better than he did against Ghana, but he was nowhere near the worst player wearing the Three Lions on his chest.
Anderson was praised by Micah Richards before the game, but this was a frustrating night for the Forest man and his England teammates.
- READ MORE: Declan Rice hails Elliot Anderson
English media react to Elliot Anderson’s performance vs Ghana
It’s fair to say there were some mixed contrasts regarding his performance against Ghana in the second game in Group L.
Anderson gave his all as always, but some news outlets felt he was off the pace, with others believing he was among the better England players.
The Guardian only scored him a 5/10 and claimed: “Far too slow in possession. Has to be much more proactive with his forward passing.”
The Telegraph saw his performance a little higher, with 6/10 coming from Mike McGrath, who said: “He kept the ball moving from his position at the base of midfield, and his passes were England’s best chance to get behind Ghana’s deep back line. One of those passes set Madueke away in first-half stoppage time, but Ghana managed to block the shot. He will be crucial to breaking down defences as the tournament goes on.”
The I Paper said of Anderson: “England’s best player. Looked frustrated at times with the ball at his feet, with few options ahead of him. Covered so much ground and always looked for that forward pass.”
John Cross of The Mirror gave Anderson a 7/10 and also felt he played well. He wrote: “One of England’s better players because he used and kept the ball better than most.”
Finally, he was given a 6/10 from The Independent for his efforts: “Struggled to influence proceedings in the same way as he did against Croatia, but perhaps inevitable given Ghana’s shape. Didn’t do enough with a free header at the back post on 61 minutes.”
| Elliot Anderson vs Ghana | Total |
| Minutes | 72 |
| Touches | 92 |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Pass Accuracy | 89.2% |
| Who Scored Rating | 7.08 |
Anderson future likely to be resolved after the World Cup
With every passing appearance he makes at the World Cup, Forest will feel that Anderson’s valuation is shooting up.
Ultimately, it’s remarkable what the youngster has achieved in such a short space of time at the City Ground and the powers that be deserve credit for bringing him to the club.
Elliot Anderson wants to win a major tournament with England – can the Three Lions claim glory at the World Cup this year?
Anderson will not get too carried away with this draw for England against Ghana, nor will his teammates.
England should beat Panama comfortably on Saturday, and if they do that, a place in the knockout stages will be guaranteed as the winners of Group L, which is the position everyone anticipated England would finish in.
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