Former Ghana international, Godwin Attram, believes the Black Stars have already shown enough tactical discipline and organisation under Carlos Queiroz to suggest they can navigate a difficult FIFA World Cup group campaign, provided Queiroz remains firm in his selections and sticks to a clear game plan despite the absence of several key players.

While many supporters remain concerned about Ghana's ability to dominate possession and impose themselves on matches, Attram insists the more important takeaway from last week's 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff was the emergence of a team with a clear identity and a coach with a workable plan.

Speaking on Graphic Digital's Soccer Chatlive last Friday, Attram — owner and head coach of Division One side, Attram De Visser FC — analysed Ghana's performance in the recent friendly against Wales, assessed the impact of injuries on key players and outlined how the Black Stars can maximise the strengths of influential figures such as Thomas Partey and Antoine Semenyo.

Positive outlook

"What I saw against Wales was encouraging," said Attram, who captained the Black Starlets to win silver at the 1997 U-17 FIFA World Cup and later featured for the Black Stars.

"We saw a team with a clear strategy. We defended well and, although our attacking transitions needed improvement, the coach identified the problem and made effective adjustments," he pointed out.

Godwin Attram

The former PSV Eindhoven youth star, who later played professional football in Tunisia, Denmark and Saudi Arabia, was particularly impressed by Ghana's defensive structure, highlighting the team's disciplined medium block and organised pressing triggers as evidence that Queiroz's ideas are already taking shape after less than three months in charge.

Against Wales, Ghana rarely looked exposed despite the absence of influential centre-backs, Mohammed Salisu and Alexander Djiku. 

Instead, Ghana’s Portuguese Black Stars deployed youngsters, Jonas Adjetey and Jerome Opoku, who remained compact in central defence, forcing their opponents into difficult areas before attempting to regain possession and launch attacks.

"We defended in a medium block and looked to press in specific areas before winning possession," Attram explained. 

"The problem in the first half was that our transitions were too slow. Once we won the ball, we continued circulating it instead of attacking quickly, which was the objective."

That attacking deficiency, he believes, was directly linked to the absence of injured playmaker, Mohammed Kudus, whose ability to beat defenders and create opportunities remains unmatched within the squad.

"Kudus gives you something different. He can receive the ball, beat one or two players and suddenly create a chance," Attram said.

Yet rather than dwell on the loss of Ghana's most creative player, he pointed to Queiroz's in-game management as a major positive.

The introduction of Ernest Nuamah after the break immediately increased Ghana's threat in transition, providing the direct running and unpredictability the Black Stars had lacked in the opening period.

"The coach recognised the problem and brought on Ernest Nuamah, who performed that role very well," Attram noted. "Even though he is returning from injury, his football intelligence remains evident."

For 45-year-old Attram, nicknamed Platini after the French maestro, that tactical flexibility is perhaps the strongest indicator that Ghana can compete when their World Cup campaign begins against Panama on June 17.

"If the team executes the medium vpress effectively and conserves energy for the key attacking players, Ghana can be dangerous," he said. 

"With midfielders capable of winning the ball quickly and supplying the wide players early, we can trouble Panama and any other team in the group," he added.

Despite concerns over Ghana’s defensive solidity, Attram was excited about the emerging partnership between Adjetey and Opoku in central defence, which was a positive development, as the young pair delivered a composed display which left the retired star convinced Ghana can remain defensively solid throughout the World Cup.

“If Adjetey and Jerome continue to show that level of awareness and discipline, I do not think Ghana will have any major problems defensively during the tournament.

"There were very few mistakes [against Wales], and they complemented each other effectively," he said. 

"They won important duels, intercepted passes and covered for one another. Their aerial dominance was particularly noteworthy for the retired star.

"As the game progressed, Wales realised they were unlikely to win high balls and started looking for different attacking solutions. That is what good defenders do. They read the game, adapt and understand what opponents are trying to achieve."

With a settled defensive platform, a coach willing to adapt and a group beginning to understand its responsibilities, Attram believes Ghana have every reason to approach the World Cup with confidence.

"That shows tactical awareness and flexibility," he said. 

"If Queiroz remains disciplined, gives players clear responsibilities and sticks to a well-defined game plan, Ghana have every chance of progressing," Attram stated.