Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has urged his players to raise their performance levels ahead of Ghana’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter with Colombia, stressing the need for greater defensive discipline and attacking efficiency.
The Black Stars booked their place in the knockout stage despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group L match.
Petar Sučić and Nikola Vlašić scored for Croatia, while Derrick Luckassen found the net for Ghana.
Reflecting on the result, Queiroz said the tournament had now entered its most crucial stage, where every mistake could prove decisive.
“I have just told my players that the real World Cup starts in the next round,” the Ghana coach said.
“The group stage is the warming-up, and qualification for the next round is like a credit card, but now you have to start paying.”
He added that the knockout phase leaves no room for complacency, with every match becoming a winner-takes-all contest.
“Everything goes to the winner.
Every game is drama, nobody can hide.
That starts in the next game,” he said.
Queiroz also stressed the importance of improving both defensively and offensively if Ghana are to progress further in the competition.
The Black Stars will face Colombia in the Round of 32 at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
