Black Stars left-back Gideon Mensah says he is actively embracing the daunting prospect of facing England’s world-class wingers, declaring himself a “big-game player” ready to change the tournament narrative.
Ghana takes on the star-studded Three Lions on Tuesday in a blockbuster Group L encounter, with both sides looking to lock down early qualification for the knockout rounds.
While the English media and bookmakers have heavily backed Thomas Tuchel’s side as clear favorites, Mensah remains utterly unfazed.
When specifically questioned during the pre-match press conference about his upcoming defensive assignment against elite flankers Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, the Auxerre defender welcomed the challenge with supreme confidence.
”Yeah, I mean I dream to play against most of the best players in the game,” Mensah said. “And then coming against players like this is like a dream for me.”
The 27-year-old full-back, who played a crucial role in maintaining a clean sheet during Ghana’s opening 1-0 win over Panama, believes these are precisely the moments that define a player’s career. Instead of fearing the Premier League stars, Mensah views the Gillette Stadium showdown as his ultimate platform.
”I see myself to be a player for big games and big players so it’s time for me to also shine,” the defender asserted. “People are tipping them to be the favorites and whatnot. But then I’m trying to like, make sure that after the game the name, the news is going to change around it.”
With the Black Stars heading into the fixture with “free minds” and three points already in the bag, Mensah’s bold declaration sets the tone for an aggressive, fearless Ghanaian approach as they attempt to orchestrate one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
