'Only medicine that works is to win': Queiroz looking for top start against Panama

This is Queiroz’s fifth World Cup as a head coach, and has had previous stints with Portugal, Iran, Colombia and Egypt, but the Ghana job remains unique as he’s heading into a major tournament just two months after appointment.

Asked first about his starting line-up, the 73-year-old kept his cards firmly to his chest, signalling that every member of his travelling party remains in contention right up to kick-off.

“We have our plan settled. We are in this moment counting on all 26 players that we have in the squad, and tomorrow we'll make a decision, and we'll see the starting lineup.”

At the time of the press conference, Thomas Partey remained in Smithfield, Rhode Island, as the hearing of his Canada visa refusal in Ottawa played out, and Queiroz refused to be drawn any further on the situation.

“I think it's not necessary to make comments. The story is open; the freedom of speech is open, so adding more comments about issues that make no sense is not part of my business. My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me.

We are waiting for a decision. When the decision comes, we are ready to make the final approach to the game.”

In the end, the verdict was delivered after the press conference as the appeal was dismissed, effectively ruling Partey out of the Panama fixture.

Pressed on whether the Panama fixture is a must-win in a group that also contains England and Croatia, Queiroz resonated with his broader philosophy that has carried him through more than three decades of international football.

“Our value is not based on intentions or wishes. Our value is based on results. And the only medicine that works in football is to win. So, we are ready to fight for the result.”

He went further when asked directly whether the opener felt like a do-or-die. 

“I never remember in my life playing a game that was not a must-win,” he replied.

Ghana arrive in Toronto ranked 72nd in the world, the lowest in the group. Panama, at 30th, will be without their key midfielder Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla, who is still working his way back from a muscle problem and is not expected to start for Thomas Christiansen’s side. 

Confidence in Black Stars

Queiroz, asked to assess the Central Americans, allowed himself a flash of competitive confidence.

“Of course, Panama have some weaknesses. We need to find them and I believe we have the solution to their strengths.”

He then ran briskly through what he sees as his own team’s edge. 

“We've got great experience, we've got quality, we've got speed, we've got skill,” he said. 

“I think we can do well in one-on-one situations. We're strong and we'll showcase our strengths in the game.” 

Queiroz was equally clear-eyed, however, about the scale of what lies in front of his Black Stars across the next ten days.

“We know where we are, we know the size of the mountain that we have in front of us that we have to climb. But in the stadium, to be honest with you, I expect better. I expect that our fans will even do it better because we need the player number 12.”

Drum roll 

Toronto is home to a sizeable Ghanaian diaspora across the Greater Toronto Area, and the GFA has been working with travelling supporters and local Ghanaian community groups to fill BMO Field with red, gold and green. 

Panama, too, will arrive with a vocal contingent, but Queiroz signed off with arguably the most evocative line of the afternoon.

“We know that the fans from the other team will also be supporting. But I hope that during the game, the drums of Ghana, there will be 90 minutes in our hearts to accelerate the beat of our hearts.”

There was a brief detour, too, into the tournament’s wider stories. 

Asked about FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks, Queiroz declined to take a public position now but said he would want to see a proper integrity report at the end of the tournament, one that judges whether the rule was introduced to protect player health and performance or for other reasons.