"They're still very much in the tournament," Kirkland states in an exclusive interview.

"While we would have preferred to secure a victory against Ghana, we dominated possession with nearly 80% yet struggled to find our rhythm, ultimately falling short of expectations. We huffed and puffed throughout the match."

Kirkland acknowledges Ghana's commendable defensive performance, asserting they "deserved the draw in the end" after standing firm for a full 90 minutes.

However, he notes that England's most impactful moments came during a frantic late surge rather than through a well-orchestrated strategy.

Despite registering three shots on target, none came until the 57th minute, marking the first game of the tournament where neither side threatened the goalkeeper in the first half.

"Some might argue that Ghana simply sat back and defended, but pulling that off for 90 minutes is no small feat, and they earned their draw," he emphasizes.

Excessive Passes at the Back

Another concerning statistic involves Marc Guehi: 125 passes, the highest by any England player in a World Cup match, all lateral from a center-back. While impressive in isolation, this number leaves Kirkland feeling uneasy.

"Ideally, you want a midfielder making that many passes; that's where the focus should be on the front foot," he argues.

"Against a stronger opponent, it makes sense for a center-back to initiate more play. But against Ghana? That responsibility should rest with your attacking midfielders or forwards – that's where the touches should be concentrated."

"This underscores why our performance felt lackluster and laborious; we were taking too many touches at the back."

Kirkland also believes the heat has played a significant role, one many may underestimate. "Walking just five yards can feel like an immense task in this heat. Whether at work or on the field, the temperature can be draining. They'll need to acclimatize quickly if they hope to remain competitive in the weeks ahead."

This doesn't excuse Harry Kane's meager 19 touches – the lowest recorded in any 80-minute appearance for England in a tournament. On whether Tuchel should have substituted him, Kirkland is unequivocal.

"You cannot take Harry Kane off at 0-0. Unless he indicates an issue, he stays on because he can score from nothing. If the score were 3-0 or 4-0, sure, rest him, but at 0-0? No way. Michael Owen was the same; he could go quiet for 88 minutes and then score two goals. The FA Cup final against Arsenal proves that. Players of his caliber must remain on the pitch."

Fortunate with Refereeing Decisions

Two crucial refereeing decisions warrant more scrutiny than they've received, especially in the English media. The overlooked challenge on Ezri Konsa stands out.

"In my opinion, Ghana could have easily been awarded a penalty. If the roles were reversed, and an England player fell like that, there would be an uproar. We got away with one there," he asserts.

"He didn't play the ball; he took the player down and contributed to the fall. VAR frequently makes glaring errors - had that been against us, the entire nation would be in an uproar."

The incident involving Pickford rushing out, where the foul somehow favored England, also merits further examination.

"It's a tricky situation sometimes," he explains. "You rush out, realize you're caught in no man's land, and if you miss the ball, do you take the player out or let them run past and score? If that's a foul too, then we've dodged two serious calls."

The ongoing debate regarding Phil Foden and Cole Palmer continues, with many suggesting either could have delivered tighter passes to penetrate Ghana's low block.

Yet, Kirkland refrains from second-guessing, asserting that both players have only performed at a "five and a half, six out of ten" at club level this season.

"Had Tuchel selected them, critics would question why they were chosen given their lack of form for City or Chelsea. If Anthony Gordon was replaced by Palmer or Foden, many would argue Gordon's had a better season. It’s a no-win situation. The focus should remain on the players on the pitch," he adds.

'Just Go For It'

As England looks ahead to their Saturday match against Panama, Kirkland urges a tactical overhaul to better suit the opponent.

"Two holding midfielders are unnecessary against Panama. When you name two sitters, it can restrict your style of play. Against stronger teams, yes, you'll need that. But teams like Ghana should be approached differently. If Declan is struggling with his ankle or calf, he may need to sit this one out. If we fail to beat Panama, we have serious issues to address," he cautions.

His ideal lineup features the return of Nico O'Reilly and John Stones alongside Guehi, with Reece James retained if fit. Elliot Anderson would anchor the midfield solo, with Jude Bellingham, Gordon, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins ahead, and Kane leading the line. The emphasis should be on creating a formidable attacking threat.

"I’d simply go for it," Kirkland asserts. "Panama shouldn't present too many challenges for us. If they do, we should have more than enough firepower to score two, three, or even four goals. I want to see a team that plays with genuine attacking intent."

"We need more attacking urgency. Get the ball out faster, spread it wider, and exploit those gaps. Instead of taking that extra pass, we need to push it forward. At times, we pass sideways too often. The transition from defense to attack must be significantly quicker."

Shutting Out the Noise

Kirkland also advises those within the Three Lions camp to strive to ignore external pressures, despite the historical difficulty of doing so.

The press, predictably, is doing what they do best: hitting the panic button with sensational headlines to drive clicks and sales. Having witnessed this cycle numerous times, Kirkland understands its detrimental effect on the national team.

"Even if England wins the World Cup final 4-0, certain segments of the press would likely complain it should have been 5-0. This pattern is evident every tournament. Following a lackluster performance, they quickly turn on the players," he laments.

"I’ve always disapproved of this - it does no favors for the players, the squad, or the fans, as supporters begin to echo opinions that aren’t even their own. That’s just the reality we face."

As it stands, England leads Group L and is on track to secure the top spot on Saturday.

However, the true challenge lies ahead in the knockout stages, where serious contenders will await.