PORTUGAL VS GHANA BUILD UP
FIFA World Cup around the globe make this sport different than any other. The history between the countries, 90 minutes of intense football is a perfect recipe for a true festival spirit. This Thursday evening at 4pm, the eyes of footballing fans around the globe will be fixed firmly at the 974 Stadium in Doha for one of the most anticipated match on the FIFA World Cup calendar.
All the major sports dailies will concentrate their full attention on the clash, covering everything from personal storylines to tactical battles. The coaches and players will be scrutinised, the fans will be fervent and the neutrals will be enraptured.
The last meeting held between the two sides was on 26th June 2014. The match finished 2-1 in favor of Portugal . Fernando Santo’s side had a good run against Ghana in their first ever meeting.
This will be Otto Addo’s first World Cup as a manager. His numbers haven’t been convincing , wining just three out of his nine matches for the Black Stars. In the last two matches, all of which brought victories including wins against Nicaragua and Switzerland. Ghana have been far more direct, with a greater emphasis on turning defence into attack more quickly.
Cristiano Ronaldo will likely be leading the line for Seleçŕo das Quinas of Portugal in his fifth Fifa World Cup edition, with his seven goals in seventeen games at the FIFA World Cup, scoring in every edition he has played in - 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 seeing him as the players with most caps.
"It is very relative, I really believe that our selection have enormous potential. Winning, we'll see. I believe so, I have that hope and that feeling, but in these competitions, we have to think calmly, and think about the first game against Ghana, which in my opinion is the most difficult. Start off on the right foot to gain confidence and, from there, it's going slowly," Ronaldo said.
On the side of Ghana, the player to watch is Mohammed Kudus . The young fleet-footed attacker is blessed with plenty vision and creativity and he is the player Portugal have to keep a close eye on. Scoring 10 goals in 23 matches for his club side, bringing this hot form into the World Cup. He has been the main man for the Black Stars of Ghana in previous years. No Ghanaian had scored three times in a row in the history of the topmost European club competition but the young sensation achieved that feat with his club side this season.
Portugal gloat on matured squad, one that has most of the players played at the highest level and has the qualities to take them far in the tournament. With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, these are the star men of the set up.
Ghana boast of many individual talents who have played together for long and are specify by a strong team spirit and never-say-die attitude.
Going into this game, Portugal will be looking to extend their winning streak against Ghana, riding on the back of an undefeated run in their last friendly game under Fernando Santos.
A win for Ghana, would them their first over win over Portugal.
An influencer in Ghana, famously Known as Dr. Sneaker Nyame said, “ Portugal will explain to us why Captain Don Diego d’Azambuja arrived in Ghana with no visa and no covid 19 vaccine. We shall see”.
The love and support from the fans of various countries make this game a special one, there is no better evidence of the power of football fans than the recent collapse of the European Super League.
Going into this game, Ghana is the only African side yet to play in this year’s World Cup. No African side has managed to score at goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup so far, despite a combined total of 44 shots.
African top influencer widely known as KalyJay said, “Looks like Ghana will be the first African country to win a game at the 2022 World Cup. The Black Stars Being Hope of Africa”.
Can Fernando Santos extend their winning streak over Ghana to wins in a row? Or can Otto Addo and his boys cause a shock?
After 90 minutes of end to end action, that is when we can get the answers to this questions.