Portugal will look to kick off the World Cup group stages with a bang when they face Ghana in the opening match. This group H meeting will be held on November 24. Both teams have had a mediocre performance in recent World Cups. This will be the first meeting between Portugal and Ghana since the two teams met at the World Cup in 2014. Portugal won the match 2-1 at the time.
For good reason, Portugal are heavy favorites to win their opening group game against Ghana. The Portuguese squad has a good mix of quality, experience, and youth, which should pay off in Qatar. On paper, Portugal has a far superior squad than Ghana and should easily defeat their African opponents. Portugal won their only game against Ghana 2-1 in 2014, and they come into this match fresh off a 4-0 win over Nigeria, and they have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches.
Portugal had to go through the play-offs, resulting in a long journey for the European champions. Christian Ronaldo will undoubtedly be the center of attention in Portugal. Even if the Manchester United superstar's domestic form has been mixed, he has consistently delivered for the national team. The numbers for the 37-year-old are impressive: 191 caps, 117 goals, and with this likely being his final World Cup, we expect the Portuguese star to go out with a bang.
Ghana plays a highly competitive football style that does not prioritize individual players. Ghana, unlike in previous years, does not have a star-studded squad. The national team advanced from the African qualification group by narrow margins. The team may not have high expectations heading into the World Cup after failing to qualify for the 2018 edition and also failing to advance beyond the group stage in 2014, but the Ayew brothers, Partey, Amartey, and Rahman will be looking to help guide this young side to a respectable finish.
