World Cup 2022: Reasons for Ghana to be confident of beating Portugal

The Black Stars return to the biggest international stage following a brief absence - having failed to qualify in 2018 - but they are facing an uphill battle to make the knockout rounds again.

As well as Portugal, South Korea and 2010 foes Uruguay are also waiting to do battle with Otto Addo's side, but their chances of a positive result on the opening day should not be written off.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at three reasons for Ghana to be confident of claiming an upset against Portugal at Stadium 974.

CLEAN SHEETS GALORE

While Portugal have been rather impressive on the defensive front themselves in recent months, Ghana can outperform their more revered opponents in that department courtesy of some wonderful rearguard displays.

A record of seven wins from their last eight games is impressive in itself, but all seven of those triumphs have come with a clean sheet, including in an eye-catching 2-0 friendly victory over Switzerland last Thursday.

The introduction of former attacker Otto Addo to the hotseat has led to a stark turnaround in defensive fortunes, and Brazil - many people's favourites for the World Cup - are the only team to have breached Ghana's defence in their last eight games, seeing off the Black Stars by three goals to nil.

As well as Switzerland, the likes of Chile, Nigeria, Benin and Nicaragua have all failed to make the net ripple against Ghana, who possess some standout names at the back, including Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu.

With a well-rested Thomas Partey also set to return to the base of the midfield following a remarkable start to the season with Arsenal, Portugal's star names in attack have their work cut out for them here.

POOR PORTUGAL FORM

Portugal may have come up trumps during their only previous meeting with Ghana - which came at the 2014 World Cup in the group stage - but A Selecao have not covered themselves in glory on the biggest stage over the past few years.

Not since 2006 have Portugal managed to open their World Cup campaign with a win, having drawn with Ivory Coast in 2010, lost to Germany in 2014 and played out a 3-3 draw with Spain in 2018.

Indeed, Fernando Santos's side come into the 2022 edition having only won three of their last 14 World Cup matches, although all of them have come in the group stage, and Ghana are sure to expose such frailties if recent history is anything to go by.

It may be eight years since Ghana last took to the field at the World Cup finals, but they have scored in each of their last five at the tournament - only South Africa and Nigeria have scored in at least six in a row out of all the African nations.

ANDRE AYEW OUT TO MAKE HISTORY

There is plenty of life left in Andre Ayew and his 31-year-old legs as he prepares to lead this Ghana side into their next World Cup, and he does so as their leading goalscorer in the squad with 23 strikes from 110 international appearances.

Only two of those goals have come at a World Cup finals, with the forward netting against the United States and Germany in the 2014 edition, but a slice of history will be on the line for Ayew this week.

Should the former Swansea City man play on Thursday, it will mark his eighth World Cup match, which would see him set a new record for current players for African nations, and he would undoubtedly love to mark the occasion with a goal.

Much has been made of teams' ability to cope with the harsh heat in Qatar this winter, but Ayew is more than used to playing in these conditions, having represented Qatari champions Al-Sadd since 2021 and scoring 15 league goals from 21 games in his debut season.

Even if Ayew does not make it onto the pitch for a history-making appearance, Ghana's frontline of brother Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Inaki Williams is certainly a fear-inducing one, which even the staunch defence of Portugal might have trouble keeping at bay.

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World Cup 2022: Reasons for Portugal to be confident of beating Ghana