A few days ago, i was one of one people who believed England will beat Ghana
Many laughed and probably looked at me maybe as one of the most unpatriotic ghanaian to grace the face of the country
rightly so
But
Then the Black Stars went out and proved that belief is sometimes just as important as statistics.
Against the world’s fourth-ranked side, Ghana did not simply survive; they frustrated England, suffocated them and left one of football’s most gifted teams searching for answers.
England finished with almost 80 per cent possession, completed more than 600 passes and dominated every statistical category that usually predicts victory.
Yet Ghana walked away with exactly what Carlos Queiroz wanted.
A point.
More importantly, a statement.
England were forced into sterile possession because Ghana packed the centre of the pitch, denied space between the lines and refused to be dragged out of shape. The Black Stars had just 21 per cent possession and completed only 172 passes, but football has never been a game won by possession statistics alone.
Organisation beats chaos.
Discipline beats panic.
And Queiroz has brought both.
Now comes Croatia.
On paper, they represent an even greater tactical examination.
This is a nation built around one of football’s greatest midfields.
Luka Modrić remains one of the finest conductors the game has ever seen. Alongside him are Mateo Kovačić, players capable of controlling tempo, recycling possession and suffocating opponents through patience rather than pace.
Behind them stand defenders like Joško Gvardiol and Joško Šutalo, while Zlatko Dalić’s side continues to rely on a system that has taken them to a World Cup final and another semi-final within the last decade.
Croatia’s game is built on control.
They want the ball.
They want territory.
They want you chasing shadows until gaps inevitably appear.
Their preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 allows Modrić to drop deep, Kovačić to carry the ball through midfield and Gvardiol to step into attacking positions from left-back.
It is beautiful football.
But beautiful football does not always win football matches.
England discovered that.
So why do I believe Ghana will beat Croatia?
Because Carlos Queiroz has already shown he is willing to sacrifice possession for results.
His Ghana does not care about aesthetics.
It cares about efficiency.
The Black Stars will almost certainly sit in a compact low block, perhaps a disciplined 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1, forcing Croatia away from central areas and into wide positions where crosses become easier to defend.
Thomas Partey will become Ghana’s most important player once again.
His job will not simply be to tackle.
It will be to screen Modrić, disrupt Croatia’s rhythm and launch transitions the moment possession changes hands.
Then comes Ghana’s greatest weapon.
Speed.
Antoine Semenyo.
Iñaki Williams.
Jordan Ayew.
Ernest Nuamah if introduced.
Few international teams can match Ghana’s pace once space opens behind the defence.
England exposed Croatia’s vulnerability in transition during their opening defeat.
If Croatia commit bodies forward—and they almost certainly will because they need victory—Ghana will have opportunities to punish them.
This game will be decided in midfield.
If Modrić controls the match, Croatia probably win.
If Partey turns it into a physical battle instead of a passing exhibition, Ghana’s chances increase dramatically.
Set pieces could also become decisive.
Croatia possess excellent delivery through Modrić and dangerous aerial threats, while Ghana have shown throughout this tournament that defensive organisation remains one of their biggest strengths.
Will this be an easy game?
Absolutely not.
Croatia have too much tournament experience to be underestimated.
Their composure under pressure has carried them deep into major competitions before, and Dalić is one of international football’s smartest tacticians.
But football is about momentum.
Right now Ghana have it.
The confidence inside the Black Stars camp is unmistakable.
Carlos Queiroz has transformed a team that looked uncertain only weeks ago into one that believes every opponent is beatable.
Against England they earned respect.
Against Croatia they can earn qualification.
Not because Croatia are weak.
But because Ghana have finally rediscovered something that has been missing for years.
Identity.
Prediction: Ghana 2-1 Croatia.
