Former Ghana midfielder Godwin Attram has urged the Black Stars to show courage in tomorrow’s high-stakes clash with England in Boston, saying the team must attack, keep possession and refuse to be intimidated by the Three Lions.
The former player turned coach warned that retreating into a defensive shell against England could prove fatal.
Instead, he wants Ghana to play on the front foot, retain possession and force one of the tournament favourites out of their comfort zone in the pivotal Group L clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Attram, who starred for Ghana in their maiden World Cup qualification campaign two decades ago, cautioned that Carlos Queiroz's side would be making a dangerous mistake if they adopted the cautious approach that helped secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening fixture.
The Black Stars head into the contest buoyed by their victory in Toronto last Wednesday, knowing that avoiding defeat against the Three Lions would significantly strengthen their chances of reaching the Round of 32 ahead of Saturday's final group game against Croatia.
Yet the challenge could hardly be greater as the Three Lions stand in Ghana’s path. Ranked fourth in the world by FIFA, England announced their credentials with a ruthless 4-2 dismantling of Croatia, underlining why many consider them genuine contenders for a first World Cup title since 1966.
For Attram, however, England's strength should not dictate Ghana's approach, as he fears that Ghana risk being overwhelmed if they surrender possession to one of the pre-tournament favourites.
"Whatever strategy the coach chooses is final, but I expect the team to attack because England will attack more," Attram told the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview.
"If you don't attack and they score against you, you will definitely have to open up. And when you open up against a team like England, what happens next?
"We have to start the game with a different mentality. We must not lose possession too often. When we have the ball, we must keep it, move it quickly and play forward with support around the ball because those transition moments are how we get into their box."
Attram's warning is rooted in England's devastating attacking quality. Captain Harry Kane underlined his importance with a brace against Croatia and arrives in outstanding form.
Across the 2025-26 season, the Bayern Munich striker scored an astonishing 67 goals for club and country; Jude Bellingham contributed 10 goals for Real Madrid and England, Marcus Rashford struck 15 times for Barcelona and the national team, while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice added six goals during another influential campaign.
Those numbers explain why Attram believes Ghana cannot simply retreat into a defensive shell and hope to survive. "A draw is good for us because I believe we can match Croatia boot for boot," he said.
"But England are different. They have young players who run a lot. When you face a team that runs that much, it becomes very difficult if you just sit back and refuse to come forward."
The former international wants Ghana to combine defensive discipline with attacking ambition, acknowledging that England possess quality throughout the pitch, but with vulnerabilities to exploit.
At the same time, he cautions the Black Stars against conceding needless fouls in dangerous areas, given England's reputation as one of the world's most efficient set-piece teams.
The head coach of Division One side Attram de Visser even outlined the tactical structure he believes could give Ghana the best chance of frustrating the Three Lions.
He advocated a back-three that transforms into a back-five when defending, supported by two energetic wing-backs and two disciplined holding midfielders capable of shifting across the pitch to close spaces.
Ahead of them, Attram sees teenage sensation Caleb Yirenkyi as a key figure with his box-to-box capability to support experienced Thomas Partey in midfield.
"We need two pivots who are strong in midfield and can defend diagonally and slide quickly when the ball moves wide," he explained.
Further forward, he wants pace, directness and relentless running with two very quick attackers who can carry the ball and exploit the spaces left behind when England's wide players push forward.
History suggests Ghana face an uphill task, as England have never lost to African opposition at a World Cup, recording five wins and three draws from eight matches. During that sequence, they have scored 11 goals, conceded only three and kept six clean sheets.
Their unbeaten run includes encounters with Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria.
Yet Ghana have shown before that England can be challenged. The last senior meeting between the two nations ended in a 1-1 draw at Wembley in 2011, when Asamoah Gyan's injury-time equaliser cancelled out Andy Carroll's opener.
Now, with a place in the knockout stages potentially within touching distance, the Black Stars have another opportunity to upset the odds.
