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Carlos Queiroz reveals Ghana’s plan was to frustrate England in World Cup encounter
24th June, 2026 03:15 PM
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has praised his players for faithfully carrying out a game plan designed to neutralize England, helping the Black Stars secure a goalless draw in their Group L FIFA World Cup clash in Boston on Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026.
Speaking after the match, the experienced Portuguese tactician revealed that Ghana’s objective from the outset was to disrupt England’s rhythm and prevent them from imposing their usual style of play.
“The plan was to block them and frustrate them from the first minute to halftime – and we did exactly that,” Queiroz said.
According to the 73-year-old coach, England struggled to find answers during the opening half as Ghana successfully shut down several of their attacking avenues.
“At the end of the first half, England were completely frustrated,” he said. “They had no solutions, not their usual ways to win matches.”
Defensive discipline
Queiroz explained that Ghana’s defensive discipline was key to limiting one of the tournament favourites.
“We blocked them on set pieces, long crosses, wing attacks and runs in behind,” he added. “My players showed full concentration, determination and fighting spirit.”
The draw marked another milestone for Queiroz, who is participating in his fifth FIFA World Cup and his first at the helm of Ghana.
England entered the contest full of confidence after opening their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. However, despite dominating possession and registering 18 shots compared to Ghana’s two, the Three Lions were unable to break down a resolute Ghanaian defence.
Queiroz stressed that success in football is not determined solely by technical ability and tactical superiority.
“Football is not only tactics and technique,” Queiroz said. “It is also bravery, courage, determination and intelligence. They were better in football, we were better in fighting spirit.”
He noted that Ghana grew into the match after the break and managed to trouble England while maintaining their defensive organisation.
“In the second half we started to control the game more and more,” he said. “Their frustration continued, and we created our own chances, while they also had some.”
Reflecting on the outcome, Queiroz felt his side deserved their point from the encounter.
“In the end, I think we deserved the draw,” he said. “They had more of the ball; we fought more. The draw was a fair result for both teams.”
The veteran coach also dismissed the idea that possession statistics alone determine superiority in football.
“Possession is not football. I’ve seen teams with 80 percent of the ball and no win. Football is also intelligence and strategy.”
Coming to compete
While acknowledging England’s credentials as one of the leading contenders for the World Cup title, Queiroz insisted Ghana had arrived at the tournament to compete rather than merely participate.
“We know England are one of the candidates to win the World Cup,” he said. “But we are not here to walk or let them have fun at our expense.”
“We are here to play football and get points,” he added. “I’m not here to play like a clown. We got a point against a team that can win the tournament.”
The result leaves both Ghana and England tied on four points in Group L, keeping qualification to the knockout rounds firmly within reach.
Nevertheless, Queiroz cautioned that there is still plenty of work to do before Ghana can secure progression.
“With four points, we have not won anything yet,” Queiroz said. “Our main goal is to reach the second round. We must keep going and stay focused.”
