Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has acknowledged Croatia’s stronger start in the Black Stars’ 2-1 defeat in their final Group L match, while praising his side’s response after the break in what he described as a thrilling, hard-fought encounter.
Speaking after the game, Queiroz pointed to defensive lapses as the central issue but struck an optimistic tone about the lessons learned ahead of Ghana’s Round of 32 clash with Colombia.
“I think the result is not fair for us, but that is football. Croatia scored two easy goals… I think they were too easy, but they merit the win,” Queiroz said.
He was candid in his assessment of how the match unfolded across the two halves.
“First half, Croatia started the game better. But the second half was a football show from Ghana,” he added.
Despite the result, Queiroz was keen to emphasise the value of the experience for his squad as they head into the knockout stage.
“The best thing of this game is what we learned from the game. We learn a lot of things in terms of our evolution, our progress. We have a clear picture about the performance of some players, what we can do different in the next coming games,” he said.
Queiroz also weighed in on the tournament’s expanded 48-team format, describing its overall value as “debatable,” arguing that it diminishes the rarity and competitiveness traditionally associated with World Cup qualification.
Croatia Finally Break Ghana’s Resistance In World Cup Decider
On Antoine Semenyo’s late knock and apparent ankle twist, which had briefly raised concern among Ghanaian fans, Queiroz was quick to ease worries.
“No, it’s just a knock, he will be alright,” he said.
Derrick Luckassen, who scored Ghana’s equaliser in the 73rd minute with a volley from Ernest Nuamah’s free-kick, shared a mixed reaction after the match.
“Nice feeling [scoring], but I am a bit disappointed about the loss,” he said.
The Dutch-born defender also offered his own breakdown of the team’s tactical shift between halves.
“I think in the first half, we had the ball, but we didn’t do a lot; we were just playing around, but in the second half, we pressed forward, and we tried to put the balls in and it was much better, in my opinion,” Luckassen said.
Several Black Stars players, including Semenyo, spoke to reporters in the mixed zone and in brief post-match interviews, reflecting a bittersweet atmosphere following a competitive but ultimately unsuccessful showing. While disappointed by the loss, the squad’s overall mood centred on the positives of having already secured their place in the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Overall, the Ghana camp left Philadelphia viewing the defeat as a valuable learning opportunity — even as many in the squad felt they deserved more from a contest they competed in toe-to-toe with one of the tournament’s most experienced sides.