Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portugal national team, has said that their opening matchup in Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup against the Black Stars will be the most challenging.
Ronaldo thinks that because Portugal and Ghana have previous encounters in the competition, they would face a more challenging foe in the Black Stars than they did in the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The rematch against Ghana is, in Ronaldo’s opinion, the most challenging game in the group, so he urged his teammates to concentrate on their opening meeting against the Black Stars and not underestimate them.
“I believe our national team has tremendous potential to win the World Cup. We will see. I believe we can. I have that hope, that belief but we must start well against Ghana.”
“But like these competitions always teach us; we must think calmly. We must think and focus on the first group game. We must think about the Ghana game which is the most difficult one,” Ronaldo said at the pre-match conference on Monday, November 21, 2022.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will include a rematch of the group stage match between Ghana and Portugal from the previous tournament, and the Seleços will be depending on their talisman to lead them to victory.
Additionally, he stated that he is prepared for the World Cup, which may be his final opportunity to win the Olympics.
“I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible.”
Ronaldo in 2014 scored in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over the Black Stars but exited the tournament from the group phase together with Ghana.