The electric atmosphere at Boston Stadium was more than matched by the electric presence of Stormzy – born and raised in England, but proudly rooted in Ghana through his mother's heritage. His dual loyalties were put to the test as he predicted a goalless draw pre-match, which was eerily echoed on the pitch itself – a 0-0 stalemate that left both teams with their work cut out for their next fixtures.
Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, had been the subject of much debate about his allegiances. "I'm a Ghana boy, so this is beautiful," he said, speaking to the BBC before kick-off. He was quick to admit that Ghana needed the points more, but was keenly aware of the significance of the match for his dual heritage. A nice 1-1 draw? That was Stormzy's honest assessment – and it almost came true.
The stands were a veritable Who's Who of British entertainment royalty, with Sir David Beckham leading the charge. The former England captain was spotted by American actress Alexandra Daddario, who couldn't resist snapping a selfie with him. Marcus Mumford, frontman of Mumford & Sons, had performed in Boston the night before and brought his own special brand of music to the proceedings – or rather, the pre-proceedings.
As for the match itself? Goalless was the verdict, leaving both teams to regroup and refocus. England will now look to get their campaign back on track with a win against Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday – a match that promises to be critical for their World Cup hopes.