World Cup 2026: Ghana players commended after hard-fought draw against England

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has praised his players for their resilience and discipline following the Black Stars’ hard-fought draw against England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars faced the Three Lions in their second Group L fixture on Tuesday night at the Boston Stadium and produced a determined defensive display to earn a valuable point.

Despite England dominating possession for large spells of the contest, Ghana stood firm to frustrate Thomas Tuchel’s side and keep their hopes of progressing alive.

Speaking to the BBC after the match, Queiroz expressed pride in his players’ commitment and adherence to the tactical plan.

“The first goal is achieved, and we qualified for the second round,” Queiroz told the BBC after the game

“I am so proud of the way our players fought during the game and how much they stand behind the game plan. They always believed. My humble opinion is that England can be a candidate to win the World Cup. It is a gift for our fans. It is a gift for some of the players we lost.”

The Portuguese tactician dedicated the result to Ghanaian supporters and former members of the national team.

“It is a gift for our fans. It is a gift for some of the players we lost,” he added.

Queiroz also explained his tactical approach, insisting his side had to adapt to England’s strengths.

“That’s the way to win when you have to defend, you defend. I cannot play samba when they play rock and roll,” he said.

“The goal was to finish the first half with the England team frustrated and no solution to beat us. That was when we started to grow up and control the game. We could score, but unfortunately, we didn’t do it. I think England could score, so a draw was a fair result.”

Reflecting on the significance of the point, the former Iran and Egypt coach said qualification for the knockout stage was the team’s primary objective.

“Happiness. Win is happiness, but in this moment, the win is nothing. We reached the second stage, which was the goal,” Queiroz added.

The result leaves both Ghana and England level on four points at the top of Group L ahead of their final group matches on Saturday.

England will face Panama, while Ghana take on Croatia as both teams seek to secure qualification to the knockout stage.