The Ghanaian coach, Otto Addo, said on Wednesday that his team will have to be “brave” and “defend well” against Portugal, and anticipated a “very balanced” game against the team next Thursday. ????????We have to be brave in this game, have confidence. The players are ready and focused. We have to defend well, that’s for sure. The matches so far in this World Cup have been very balanced, with very ‘tight’ results and I think ours will be the same”, said the coach, at a press conference.

Addo, who was speaking before the Group H match, confessed that he felt “honored to be part” of the Ghanaian team, now as a coach, after having also done so as a player, in the 2006 World Cup.

Listen here to the episode of the podcast “A História do Dia” about Ronaldo’s state of mind.

How is Cristiano Ronaldo?

The coach stressed that Ghana’s intention in this World Cup is to “go game by game”, and the current focus is on the duel with Portugal. “Our focus is the game against Portugal. We have to survive the group stage and then nobody knows what will happen. We have one objective, which is to beat Portugal, which will be very difficult. After that, we’ll see,” he said.

Addo, for his part, played down the issues surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and his recent departure from Manchester United, stressing that it is “not a problem” for Ghana. ????????Honestly, I don’t care, it’s not our problem if these problems can affect Portugal. Everyone wants to win games and this is a great game, a World Cup game, so I don’t think anyone is affected by anything,” he said.

Ayew: “Portugal is a favorite on paper, but we have to fight against that”

André Ayew, captain of the African team, also admitted that Ronaldo’s timing “is not a problem” for the Ghanaians, noting that the Portuguese team has “great professionals, who play in great teams and who are undoubtedly prepared”.

“Portugal is favorite on paper, but we have to fight against that. We are facing a team that was European champion a few years ago, with world-class players, but we are going to try to make life difficult for them. In these big tournaments surprises can happen. We have to be prepared and we are going to do everything possible to get something out of this match”, anticipated the 32-year-old striker.

Ayew, who plays precisely in Qatar, at Al-Sadd, also recalled the match between the two teams in the 2014 World Cup, in which he participated and in which Portugal won 2-1, noting that the two teams “have changed a lot” since then. “There are still a lot of players from Portugal at that time, but in Ghana it was only me and my brother. [Jordan Ayew]???????? They are different games. Both teams have evolved a lot since then. Portugal won the European [de 2016]However, we already have a very good generation. We are going to try to complicate the day for Portugal”, concluded the player, who will participate in the third World Cup, after South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.