England's Djed Spence appeared to avoid shaking hands with Ghana's Thomas Partey before their World Cup match. The incident occurred on June 17, ahead of England's 4-2 win over Croatia.

What happened?

Djed Spence put his hand in his pocket while shaking hands with the players in front of and behind him, seemingly refusing to shake Partey's hand.

Why it matters for England

This incident has sparked controversy, given Partey's ongoing rape charges. The Ghana midfielder is set to go on trial next year, facing allegations from four different women.

What comes next?

England is on a 2-game winning run, with their recent form standing at 2W-0D-2L. Their next fixture is against Spain on September 26. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Last result | England 4-2 Croatia (2026-06-17) | | Recent form | 2W-0D-2L (WWLL) | | Next fixture | vs Spain (2026-09-26) | England will look to maintain their momentum in the World Cup, despite the controversy surrounding the handshake incident.