Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has set the stage for a fiery World Cup showdown with England, declaring his team carries “33 million lions” into Tuesday’s decisive Group L clash at Boston Stadium. With both sides on three points, the winner moves closer to the knockout stage and a major step toward World Cup glory.
Queiroz framed the match as more than just a football game, but a clash of identity and pride. England arrive with their “three lions,” but Ghana, he insisted, bring an entire nation behind them.
“We know they have the three lions on their shirt, but we come from Ghana and have 33 million lions to fight for this game,” he said.
The Portuguese coach, who has managed on the biggest stages in world football, believes the occasion will lift his players rather than weigh them down. Ghana opened their campaign with a late 1-0 win over Panama, while England impressed with a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
“This is the easiest type of match,” Queiroz said. “When you play England, France or Germany, you don’t need to say anything to the players. They are fully motivated.”
But he warned that emotion must be controlled. Ghana’s challenge, he explained, is not motivation, but discipline across 90 minutes.
“We must moderate enthusiasm,” he said. “We have to stick together and fight together over 90 full minutes.”
The stakes could not be higher. England, ranked fourth in the world, will top the group with a win if results go their way elsewhere. Ghana, ranked 65th, could also take control of the group with a victory of their own.
The Black Stars are chasing their first knockout appearance since their famous 2010 run to the quarter-finals in South Africa. That history still hangs over the squad, shaping expectations and belief in equal measure.
England arrive in strong form under Thomas Tuchel, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford all scoring in their opening win. Ghana, meanwhile, had to dig deep, relying on a stoppage-time strike from Caleb Yirenkyi to beat Panama.
Queiroz is not concerned by reputation or past meetings. His only focus is the present.
“Memories don’t win games,” he said. “We learned a couple of lessons in the past, but tomorrow is another story.”
He also pointed to his experience facing England before, including a heavy defeat while coaching Iran at the 2022 World Cup. But he dismissed any lingering impact from that result.
“In football, we win or we learn,” he said. “Tomorrow, we will fight to win.”
The Ghana coach insists unity will define his team’s performance. Every player, he said, must leave everything on the pitch and walk away proud.
“When the game finishes, my players must come out with their heads up,” he said. “We leave the result in the hands of God.”
For Queiroz, the message is simple. Ghana are not just here to compete. They are here to believe, to fight, and to challenge one of football’s elite on the biggest stage.
