England midfielder Jude Bellingham said the national team suffered from "second game fever" after a 0-0 draw [1] against Ghana on Tuesday.

The result raises concerns about England's ability to maintain momentum during the group stages of major tournaments. This pattern of struggling in the second match has historically hindered the team's progression and psychological confidence.

Bellingham said the squad lacked the ambition required to break down the Ghanaian defense. He described the stalemate as a recurrence of a familiar trend, saying, "Like, second game fever, you know, the same as always with us" [1]. The midfielder said England had a recurrence of this issue during the second group game in their last four major tournaments [2].

Despite the frustrating result for the team, Bellingham was named Player of the Match [3]. The midfielder said the individual recognition was not appropriate given the team's collective failure to score. "I don’t think I deserve the Player of the Match award," Bellingham said [3].

The match, part of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup group stage, ended without a goal from either side [1]. The struggle to penetrate the opposition's lines suggests a tactical rigidity that Bellingham said has plagued the team in previous cycles [2].

“"Like, second game fever, you know, the same as always with us."”

The 'second game fever' mentioned by Bellingham refers to a perceived psychological or tactical slump that England frequently experiences in the second match of group stages. By acknowledging this as a recurring trend across four major tournaments, Bellingham highlights a systemic issue with consistency and adaptability that could jeopardize England's hopes of advancing deep into the 2026 World Cup.