Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz says the Black Stars are ready for the challenge of facing England, insisting his team understands the quality of the Three Lions but believes they have the ability to compete.
The two sides meet in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L encounter, with Ghana coming into the match full of confidence after Caleb Yirenkyi’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening game. England, meanwhile, began their campaign with an entertaining 4-2 win over Croatia.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Queiroz acknowledged England’s strengths, particularly their Premier League experience and attacking quality, but said Ghana have a clear plan to handle the challenge.
“We know how England play. They have excellent players, they have the experience of their Premier League. They have intensity, but we know how we can control this,” Queiroz said.
The Portuguese coach added a rallying message ahead of the encounter, highlighting the support behind the Black Stars.
“We know they have three lions, but we have 33 million lions,” he said.
The match also brings back memories for Queiroz, who faced England as Iran coach at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Iran suffered a heavy 6-2 defeat in that group-stage meeting, but the experienced manager insists he does not view the result as a failure.
“I was not defeated. In football, we never lose. We win or we learn. We learned a couple of lessons that day,” Queiroz said.
The 71-year-old coach has been tasked with guiding Ghana back to the knockout stages for the first time since the famous quarter-final run at the 2010 World Cup.
A positive result against England on Tuesday night would put the Black Stars in a strong position ahead of their final group match against Croatia.
