Queiroz Backs Ghana's 33 Million Lions to Rattle England in Boston
Carlos Queiroz insists facing England is the simplest assignment a coach can be handed at a World Cup - not because the opposition is beatable on paper, but because no motivational speech is required. The 73-year-old Ghana head coach spoke with characteristic composure ahead of Tuesday's Group L fixture in Boston, where the Black Stars can reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 with a positive result against the Three Lions.
Queiroz, a Portuguese coaching veteran whose résumé spans nine national team appointments and five World Cups, knows England well enough not to be dazzled by them. He led Iran to a 6-2 defeat against the same opposition in Qatar 2022, a result he addressed with deliberate detachment. "In football, four years is like a century, so I don't even remember where that was," he said. "We win or we learn. We learned a couple of lessons that day." That capacity to absorb, reset and move forward without sentiment - qualities as far removed from, say, the frenetic pace of rapido russia as elite tournament football can be - has defined Queiroz's coaching career across continents and decades. rapido russia
Ghana opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama, a result that gives Queiroz's side momentum and belief heading into the most demanding test of the group stage. England, meanwhile, delivered an encouraging Group L opener with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, though defensive frailties were visible enough to give opponents reason for optimism. The Three Lions remain unbeaten across eight World Cup fixtures against African sides, but this will be their first competitive encounter with Ghana - a stat that strips the tie of any established psychological template.
Motivation Is Not the Problem
"This is the easiest type of match," Queiroz said, "because when you're about to play against England, France or Germany, you don't need to say anything to the players. They're fully motivated. Everybody is fully switched on and everybody wants to perform well." The challenge, he suggested, is almost the inverse of what people expect: managing excess enthusiasm rather than manufacturing it. "What we have to do in this type of game is to try and moderate the enthusiasm, but mainly we need to do work together. Whatever happens, we need to stick together and fight together over 90 full minutes." It was a message rooted in tactical discipline rather than romantic defiance - and that distinction matters coming from a coach of Queiroz's experience.
Squad Concerns Cloud Ghana's Preparations
Ghana's preparations have not been without difficulty. Thomas Partey, the experienced Villarreal midfielder whose physicality and reading of the game would be a significant asset against England's midfield, was absent for the Panama win after Canadian authorities denied him a visa for the Toronto fixture. He is expected to return in Boston, which would represent a meaningful upgrade in the Black Stars' engine room. Partey is currently facing trial on rape charges in Britain, allegations he firmly denies, and the situation adds an uncomfortable backdrop to what is otherwise a straightforward squad recall decision.
There is also uncertainty around goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who was forced off injured during the Panama game. Queiroz confirmed that a late call would be made on his availability, leaving Ghana's last line of defence as a live question heading into the most important match of their tournament so far. Depth and cohesion at the back will be tested regardless of who starts between the posts.
Stakes, History and the Road to the Last 16
Ghana's last appearance in a World Cup knockout round came in South Africa in 2010, a tournament remembered across the African continent for the Black Stars' agonising quarter-final exit against Uruguay. Reaching the last 16 in 2026, on North American soil, would represent a significant marker for a football programme that has struggled for consistency since that generation. Queiroz acknowledged the weight of history without letting it become a burden. "The reputations and prestige of results in the past are significant when they are written in the press, but they cannot win games," he said. "Memories don't win games, so tomorrow will be another story." His final word before the fixture carried a sharper edge: "We know they have the three lions on their shirt, but we come from Ghana and have 33 million lions to fight for this game."
