Ghana coach Queiroz says England will be the easiest World Cup opponent

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz described a match against an England‑calibre side at the World Cup as the “easiest type of game,” noting that both teams are competing for a spot in the last 32.

The 73‑year‑old Portuguese is at his fifth World Cup, his first with Ghana, having assumed the role in April. It is his ninth tenure as a national team manager.

Previously, the former Real Madrid manager and Manchester United assistant coached Iran at the last three World Cups, where the team was defeated 6‑2 by England in the 2022 group stage in Qatar.

“In football, four years feel like a century, so I don’t even recall that period,” Queiroz said.

“I was not defeated. In football, we either win or learn. We learned a few lessons that day.”

Following a 1‑0 victory over Panama to open their campaign in North America, Queiroz could lead Ghana into the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 with a win over England in Boston on Tuesday.

“It’s another game. Every match is different, with a different team on the pitch and a different environment,” he said.

“Past reputations and achievements are important when reported in the press, but they do not win games. Memories do not win games; tomorrow will be a new story.”

England began Group L strongly, winning 4‑2 over Croatia, though they displayed defensive vulnerabilities.

They are unbeaten in eight prior World Cup matches against African teams but will face Ghana in a competitive match for the first time.

“This is the easiest type of match, because when you’re about to play England, France or Germany, you don’t need to tell the players anything. They’re fully motivated,” Queiroz said.

“Everyone is fully focused and eager to perform. In this type of match, we must temper the enthusiasm but primarily