Opinion on Ghana vrs Portugal : Ghana launch their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign against Portugal on Thursday evening at the Stadium 974 in Doha.
The two teams last met at the World Cup finals in Brazil 2014 with Portugal winning the final group match by 2-1 in Brasilia. John Boye scored an own goal in the 31st minute , Asamoah Gyan equalized for the Black Stars in the 57th before Cristiano Ronaldo netted an 80th minute winner for the Europeans.
Despite the respectable record of Ghana at the FIFA World Cup across three participations , the Black Stars have never won a game against a true football powerhouse. The four wins the African team has recorded at the tournament have come against Czech Republic , USA (twice) and Serbia ; historically these nations do not form part of the crème de la crème of global soccer.
Games against credible teams like Italy , Germany , Brazil , Uruguay and Portugal have either ended in defeats or draws for the Black Stars.
The fact that Ghana is the lowest ranked team among the 32 competing in Qatar means the Portugal opener is a baptism of fire for the Ghanaians. Yet , it is another opportunity for the Black Stars to finally claim a World Cup win against a football powerhouse.
Two upsets have already been witnessed in Qatar ; Saudi Arabia coming from a goal down to defeat Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Japan repeating the trend against Germany on Wednesday.
Why then should Andre Ayew , Thomas Partey and their friends not be motivated by the feats of the Saudis and the Japanese to defy the odds in beating Portugal ?
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