Can the Black Stars shine on their return to the global stage?: Portugal v Ghana match preview
After controversies raided the camp of the team that had made the African continent proud with it’s first ever opportunity to host the World in South Africa, Ghana failed to make it pass the group stage for the first time in Brazil 2014.
Even more so they failed to make it the 2018 edition in Russia for the first time since 2006. The Black Stars drew 1-1 with Egypt but the match was merely academic, with Egypt having already secured top spot and a World Cup qualification.
After a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign last year, Ghana will be hoping to redeem themselves in Qatar. Despite their AFCON struggles, Ghana did go on to qualify for the World Cup. They topped Group G in the second round of qualification beating South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to first place – setting up a third round play-off fixture against Group C winners and fierce rivals Nigeria for a spot in Qatar which they eventually qualified via the away goal rule.
Ghana return to the biggest stage of world football and a Portugese side seeking to divert attention away from the never-ending Cristiano Ronaldo saga will be the first test to pass as the Selecao also begin another quest for international stardom with both sides meeting at Doha’s Stadium 974 on Thursday.
The Black Stars face an uphill task after Portugal to make it to the knockout stages with other group H games against Uruguay and South Korea.
Before renewing hostilities with the South Americans on December 2, Ghana prepare for a baptism of fire in Qatar as they prepare for a fourth World Cup appearance since 2006, and only once have the African nation been knocked out at the group stage.
That disappointing exit came in their most recent appearance in 2014 bowing out without a win to their name and the Black Stars also failed to prevail in any of their three Africa Cup of Nations matches earlier this year before Otto Addo took the reins.
Speaking at the Black Stars pre-match press conference, Otto.Addo insisted that his team would try to pick up all three points against Portugal.
“Our main focus is to win against Portugal, which will be very difficult. After that, we’ll look at the next step,” he said. “Surely we want to survive the group stage. We want to go game by game so our full focus is on the Portuguese game. If we don’t look too far and we concentrate on the next game, I think we can do something.”
Results since the summer have caught the eye, though, as Ghana enter the World Cup having won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions – keeping clean sheets in all of those victories and only suffering defeat to Brazil during that run – and they impressively overcame Switzerland 2-0 in a friendly last week.
The headlines both inside and outside of Portugal in recent days have been dominated by one man, as Manchester United veteran Ronaldo pulled no punches in a scathing attack on the club during an interview with Piers Morgan, which could see him leave Old Trafford at best or be sacked and sued at the worst.
Ronaldo made a surprise appearance at a press conference earlier this week to demand that focus be on the football rather than his actions, as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner desperately seeks to help Portugal finally achieve the big one after several World Cup disappointments.
Despite their status as an iconic footballing nation, Portugal have only ever progressed to the semi-finals of the World Cup on two occasions in 1966 and 2006, and they have failed to go beyond the last 16 in four of their last five tournaments.
A Selecao bowed out in the last 16 to fellow Group H rivals Uruguay in Russia four years ago and have only posted a paltry three wins from their last 11 matches at the World Cup finals, although they warmed up for the competition in an ideal manner by thumping Nigeria 4-0 in last Thursday’s friendly.
Fast starts have not been a theme of Portugal’s at the World Cup, though, as Santos’s men have failed to win any of their last three opening matches on the biggest international stage, but Ghana must lace up their best shooting boots if they are to breach a defence that has only conceded two goals in their last seven games.
Head to Head
Portugal and Ghana are not total strangers to one another at this level of football, as Ronaldo secured a 2-1 win for A Selecao versus the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup, and a similar contribution here would aid his efforts to make headlines for the right reasons again.
Form Guide
Ghana form (all competitions)
Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
Nigeria 1-1 Ghana
Ghana 3-0 Madagascar
Central Africa Republic 1-1 Ghana
Japan 4-1 Ghana
Chile 0-0 Ghana
Brazil 3-0 Ghana
Ghana 1-0 Nicaragua
Team News
Otto Addo should also have all of his players available for the game after resting some big names in last week’s win over Switzerland.
The likes of Thomas Partey, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Alexander Djiku will all expect to come back into the side after being named on the bench for that game, where Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew both featured.
Now plying his trade in Qatar with Al-Sadd, Andre Ayew would become the highest appearance-maker for African players at a World Cup with eight should he feature here, but Sulemana and Inaki Williams may be preferred from the off.
Nuno Mendes has suffered an injury scare, but Santos should otherwise be working with a fully-fit squad this week and is facing a few healthy selection dilemmas, including in goal, where Diogo Costa will hope to edge out Rui Patricio in an intense battle for the gloves.
Bernardo Silva and Ronaldo can be expected to feature in the first XI with no real questions, leaving the likes of Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Otavio and Andre Silva to battle for the final spot in the attack, and the AC Milan starlet’s prowess on the left-hand side should work in his favour.
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati Zigi; Lamptey, Amartey, Djiku, Baba; Partey, Abdul Samed; Sulemana, Kudus, J. Ayew; Williams
Portugal possible starting lineup:
Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Neves, Carvalho, Fernandes; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao
Prediction
Portugal 2-1 Ghana
