Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has struck a confident but cautious tone ahead of the Black Stars’ blockbuster Group L encounter with England, insisting his players are prepared to make the sacrifices required to secure another vital victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars head into Tuesday’s showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on the back of a dramatic 1-0 triumph over Panama in their opening fixture. Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi emerged as the hero, firing home a stoppage-time winner that sparked jubilant celebrations among Ghanaian supporters and handed the four-time African champions a perfect start to their campaign.
The victory reflected the discipline, resilience and tactical organisation that have become trademarks of Queiroz’s coaching philosophy throughout his distinguished international career.
However, the experienced Portuguese tactician is fully aware that England present an entirely different challenge.
The Three Lions, managed by Thomas Tuchel, began their World Cup journey with a 4-2 victory over Croatia but showed defensive vulnerabilities after conceding twice. It is an area Queiroz, renowned for his meticulous preparation and defensive expertise, will be hoping his side can exploit.
Rather than focusing on England’s star-studded lineup, the 73-year-old has challenged his players to embrace the physical and mental demands of competing on football’s biggest stage.
“To suffer and play. We have to suffer; there is no other way. We must be ready to make sacrifices. You have to be ready to pay the price because a win in this World Cup is very expensive. But the boys are ready to pay that price. Very expensive,” Queiroz told reporters.
The message reflects the mentality that has defined one of the most respected international coaches in world football. As the most experienced manager at the 2026 World Cup, Queiroz has built his reputation on creating disciplined, tactically astute teams capable of frustrating technically superior opponents before striking with precision.
Against an England side packed with Premier League stars, Ghana are expected to adopt a compact defensive structure while looking to punish their opponents on the counterattack—a strategy that has troubled the Three Lions on numerous occasions in major tournaments.
Queiroz also has a wealth of experience and quality at his disposal. Midfield anchor Thomas Partey, captain Jordan Ayew, forwards Antoine Semenyo and Kamaldeen Sulemana, as well as the exciting Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, are all expected to play key roles as Ghana seek to pull off one of the biggest results of the group stage.
With three points already secured against Panama, another victory would put the Black Stars in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout rounds ahead of their final Group L fixture against Croatia on June 27.
For Queiroz, the challenge is simple but demanding: embrace the suffering, trust the process and pay the price required for success.
If Ghana can execute that plan against England, the Black Stars could move one step closer to another memorable chapter in their World Cup history.
