Former Ghana international and current Uganda Under-17 head coach Laryea Kingston has urged the Black Stars to make a few tactical adjustments as they prepare for their decisive final Group L match against Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kingston made the comments after Ghana’s impressive goalless draw against England, a performance that earned widespread praise from football fans, coaches and pundits around the world. The Black Stars frustrated one of the tournament favourites with a disciplined defensive display, proving they have the organisation, commitment and resilience to compete against the biggest teams on the world stage.
While pleased with Ghana’s performances so far, Kingston believes the team can become even stronger by making slight tactical improvements before facing Croatia. He insists the Black Stars already possess enough quality to challenge any opponent and only need to make a few adjustments to maximise their strengths.
Ghana make impressive start to World Cup campaign
Ghana began the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama, earning three valuable points through a disciplined and determined display. That victory provided confidence ahead of a much more difficult assignment against England, who entered the match as one of the favourites to win the group.
Despite England dominating possession for long periods, Ghana remained compact and organised throughout the contest. The Black Stars defended brilliantly, restricted England’s attacking opportunities and held Thomas Tuchel’s side to a goalless draw.
The result lifted Ghana to four points after two matches, leaving qualification for the Round of 32 firmly in their own hands ahead of the final group fixture.
The strong start has restored confidence among supporters, with many now believing the Black Stars are capable of making a deep run in the competition.
Kingston praises Ghana’s attacking quality
Speaking to Joy Sports, Kingston said he has been impressed by what he has seen from the Black Stars so far during the tournament.
Although much of the praise following the England match focused on Ghana’s defensive discipline, the former winger believes the team also possesses plenty of attacking quality capable of hurting opponents.
According to Kingston, Ghana have enough talented players across the pitch to compete with any nation participating in the World Cup.
“We have all the weapons to hurt any opponent,” Kingston said.
His comments reflect the confidence many former players now have in the current Black Stars squad, particularly under the leadership of head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The team includes experienced players alongside exciting younger talents, creating a balanced squad capable of adapting to different styles of opposition.
Croatia expected to prepare differently
While Kingston praised Ghana’s tactical approach against England, he believes Croatia will arrive much better prepared after studying the Black Stars’ performances.
Ghana defended in a compact low block for much of the England match, making it extremely difficult for the Three Lions to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
That strategy worked perfectly against England, but Kingston believes Croatia will likely have developed plans to overcome the same defensive setup.
“I believe it has worked for us, but against Croatia, I know they have seen our games and will definitely find solutions to our low block,” he added.
For that reason, Kingston believes Ghana’s coaching staff should introduce slight tactical changes rather than relying entirely on the same approach used against England.
He feels unpredictability could become one of Ghana’s greatest strengths as they seek another positive result.
Queiroz has transformed the Black Stars
Much of Ghana’s recent improvement has been credited to Carlos Queiroz, who took charge of the national team only a few months before the World Cup.
The experienced Portuguese coach inherited a squad that many observers believed lacked consistency, but he has quickly built a disciplined and well-organised side capable of competing against elite opposition.
Under Queiroz, Ghana have become much more difficult to break down defensively while maintaining the ability to threaten opponents on the counterattack.
The Black Stars have conceded very few chances throughout the tournament, with goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and the defensive unit producing several outstanding performances.
Players have repeatedly praised the coach’s tactical preparation, while even England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged after Tuesday’s draw that Ghana’s organisation and physical commitment made life extremely difficult for his team.
Kingston’s comments are therefore not a criticism of Queiroz’s methods but rather a suggestion that small tactical refinements could make an already impressive team even stronger.
Qualification remains within Ghana’s control
Heading into the final round of Group L fixtures, Ghana remain in an excellent position to qualify for the knockout stage.
The Black Stars currently sit second in the standings, level on four points with England but behind the Three Lions on goal difference.
Victory over Croatia would guarantee Ghana a place in the Round of 32 and could even see them finish as group winners if England fail to beat Panama.
Even a draw may be enough depending on other results, but the players have repeatedly stated that they are aiming to win the match rather than settle for a single point.
That ambitious mentality has impressed supporters and former players alike, with belief continuing to grow throughout the country.
Opportunity to return to the knockout rounds
For Ghana, Saturday’s match represents more than just another group fixture. The Black Stars are hoping to qualify for the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since their memorable campaign in South Africa in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals and came within a penalty shootout of making history.
Many members of the current squad have spoken about their desire to create their own memorable chapter in Ghanaian football history.
A positive result against Croatia would not only secure progression but would also demonstrate that Ghana are once again capable of competing with the world’s strongest football nations.
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