Carlos Queiroz has described Ghana’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Colombia as the point where the tournament truly begins, urging his players to raise their performance for the knockout stage.
The Black Stars coach acknowledged that Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group L match exposed defensive weaknesses, adding that his team must improve at the back while becoming more clinical in attack.
Queiroz explained that although the group stage was important for qualification, the knockout rounds are different because every mistake can be costly and only victories matter. He told his players that the real World Cup starts now, stressing that every match from this stage is a high-pressure contest where there is no room for errors.
Despite finishing third in Group L, Ghana progressed to the Round of 32 and will face Colombia at the Kansas City Stadium, with Queiroz confident his side will produce a more disciplined and determined performance.
