Black Stars defender Jerome Opoku has expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to compete with England ahead of their highly anticipated Group L encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the four-time African champions have enough quality to secure all three points.
The 27-year-old centre-back believes Ghana should approach the fixture with a winning mentality as opposed to the widespread suggestions that a draw could be enough to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stages following their opening victory over Panama.
Ghana began their World Cup campaign on a positive note with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Central Americans in Toronto. Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi emerged as the hero, scoring deep into stoppage time to hand the Black Stars a vital three points in their first match of the tournament.
England also made a winning start in Group L, defeating Croatia 4-2 in an entertaining contest that showcased the attacking quality at Thomas Tuchel’s disposal. The result set up a fascinating showdown between the two winning teams in the group.
England Strength Acknowledged
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s clash, Opoku acknowledged England’s strength but stressed that Ghana possess qualities capable of troubling any opponent on the world stage. “We know England have got good players, but we have great qualities too,” the defender said.
The Istanbul Basaksehir player also dismissed suggestions that Ghana should be content with a draw against the Three Lions because of their opening victory. “I heard people saying that since we beat Panama, we only need a draw against England, and for me I don’t think that way. Every match is to win,” he stated.
Opoku’s comments reflect the growing belief within the Black Stars camp that the team can compete against some of the tournament’s strongest nations. Ghana have often embraced the role of underdogs at World Cups, producing memorable performances against highly rated opponents such Germany in 2014 and Czech Republic in 2006 and others throughout their history in the competition.
The defender’s confidence is also rooted in Ghana’s encouraging display against Panama, where the team showed discipline, resilience and tactical organisation despite having to wait until the closing moments to secure victory.
Defensive Foundation Gives Ghana Confidence
Opoku was among Ghana’s standout performers in the opening fixture and played a key role in ensuring the team kept a clean sheet. Partnering Jonas Adjetey in central defence, he produced a commanding display that helped to limit Panama for much of the contest.
Statistics from the match highlighted the defender’s influence. He registered seven clearances and three recoveries while maintaining a perfect tackle success rate throughout the game. Equally impressive was the fact that he was not dribbled past once, underlining the composure and defensive awareness he brought to the backline.
His partnership with Adjetey has quickly become one of Ghana’s strengths, with both defenders combining physicality, anticipation and calmness in possession especially in the absence of regular pair Alexander Djiku and Salisu Mohammed who both missed the tournament due to injury.
England’s forward line demonstrated its potency against Croatia, scoring four goals and creating numerous chances. However, Opoku believes Ghana’s collective quality gives them every reason to be optimistic heading into the encounter.
A positive result against England would place the Black Stars in a strong position to secure qualification for the Round of 32 before their final group match. Victory would also represent one of Ghana’s most significant World Cup results and further enhance confidence within the squad.
For now, though, Opoku’s focus remains firmly on maintaining the ambitious mindset that has guided the team since arriving in North America. Rather than calculating what result might be enough, the defender wants Ghana to continue pursuing victories against every opponent.
That mentality will be put to the test on Tuesday, June 23, when Ghana take on England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. With both teams entering the match on the back of opening wins, the fixture promises to be one of the standout contests of the group stage as the Black Stars seek to prove they belong among the tournament’s elite.
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