It is evident that the current crop of Ghana players had their work cut out for themselves to the match the heroics of the team that played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was always going to be an uphill battle against Colombia who in recent times have risen to prominence.
A solitary goal in the 14th-minute of the game from Jhon Arias was the difference in the end.
Black Stars gaffer Carlos Queiroz’s did not hide his disappointment in his post match interview stating “I felt really quickly that some of the Ghanaian players were fearful. They were not cool, calm, and collected when the pressure hit.”
The Portuguese coach further stressed the importance of gaining experience and maturity, stating that “it’s a young team, we need more experience, we need time for some players to win what we call maturity”
He further added that magnitude of a competition such as the global showpiece cannot only count on the enthusiasm of youth.
Queiroz stated Colombia were the better of thewas sides and deserved to progress.
“The goal came too early for us … It took some time for us to adjust and recover from that substitution, and the goal came at the moment we were trying to resettle our team,”
Queiroz bemoaned conceding early and highlighted that his troops took too long to adjust to the substitutions.
The Ghana coach noted some improvement in the second after half, but stated his side were never in control of the match.
Colombia will now take on Switzerland for a place in the last 8, in what will be a fiercely contested affair.
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