Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has said the Black Stars will adopt an attacking approach in their final Group L match against Croatia as they seek to secure a place in the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Philadelphia ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter, the Portuguese coach made clear that his side’s objective is to claim all three points rather than focus on possible group standings.
The Black Stars go into the match in a strong position after collecting four points from their opening two fixtures, having defeated Panama 1-0 before earning a goalless draw against England.
Those results have left Ghana well placed in the race for qualification to the Round of 32, with another positive result against Croatia expected to strengthen their chances of extending their World Cup campaign.
Queiroz said his players would approach the contest with a clear intention to outperform their opponents and secure victory.
“Tomorrow, we only have one option. We need to come out stronger and better than Croatia,” the Portuguese tactician said.
The Ghana coach explained that although the final group positions will ultimately determine which teams progress, his immediate concern is ensuring that the Black Stars produce the performance required to win the match.
Rather than becoming distracted by different qualification scenarios, Queiroz indicated that his squad’s full attention is fixed on securing maximum points from the decisive fixture.
Ghana have produced encouraging performances during the group stage, beginning their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before following that result with a disciplined goalless draw against England.
Those displays have placed the Black Stars within touching distance of the knockout rounds and have given them the opportunity to determine their own fate in the final group match.
The meeting with Croatia now represents the most important challenge of Ghana’s campaign so far, with qualification for the Round of 32 at stake.
Queiroz’s comments reflected the confidence and determination within the Ghana camp as preparations continued in Philadelphia ahead of Saturday’s contest.
The Portuguese coach has made it clear that his team will not adopt a cautious approach despite the significance of the occasion, instead signalling that Ghana intend to play positively in pursuit of victory.
A successful outcome against Croatia would further strengthen the Black Stars’ hopes of advancing beyond the group stage and maintain the momentum they have built through their opening two matches.
With the knockout phase within reach, Ghana head into the decisive encounter knowing that another strong performance could keep their World Cup ambitions alive as they continue their campaign in the United States.
