Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz of Ghana said that England are famous around the world for the 'Three Lions' crest on their shirt, but Ghana will be looking for a surprise result and to take the points they need to advance to the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
England go into the match with great confidence after their 4-2 win over Croatia, a game that demonstrated the attacking power of Thomas Tuchel's side while also exposing some defensive vulnerabilities.
Ghana, who put in a disciplined performance to beat Panama 1-0, have the chance to turn their strong start into a new achievement and secure qualification from Group 12.
Queiroz said at the pre-match press conference: "We have a wonderful match ahead of us. This is what we strive for all our lives — to be in the right place at the right time and to play against the best players in the world."
He added: "We know how England play. They have excellent players with a great deal of Premier League experience. They play with power, but we know how to deal with that."
The Ghana coach then said with a smile: "We know they have three lions, but we have 33 million lions," in a reference to Ghana's population.
A Ghana win — the country's best World Cup finish being a quarter-final appearance at the 2010 tournament — would guarantee their passage to the next round, while a draw could also be enough to qualify for the round of 32.
Ghana sit second in the group on 3 points, level with leaders England, who are ahead on goal difference, while Croatia and Panama remain pointless.
Queiroz brings considerable World Cup experience having appeared at the tournament with various national teams, as well as his long background in English football as part of the coaching staff at Manchester United under Alex Ferguson.
The Portuguese coach said: "We are here to collect points and qualify. That is the most important goal for us. We know England's strength, but we also have our own qualities and we must play at our maximum for all 90 minutes."
He concluded: "There will be great enjoyment inside the stadium. We will fight, play and have fun, and I believe this match will remain in the memory and hearts of people long after it is over."