Semenyo: Black Stars Must Defend Solidly for 90 Minutes to Beat Croatia

Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has stressed the importance of defensive discipline as the Black Stars prepare for a pivotal World Cup Group L match against Croatia on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. With qualification to the Round of 32 within reach, Semenyo warned that the squad must remain focused and avoid overconfidence.

The 25-year-old Bournemouth player praised manager Carlos Queiroz's tactical approach, noting that players are fully committed to the defensive blueprint that has yielded solid performances against Panama and England. "We have to defend as a team for 90 minutes to get a result," Semenyo said, highlighting that his Premier League experience has equipped him for this demanding style of play.

Ghana currently sits joint top of Group L with four points. A victory over Croatia will secure qualification, whilst a draw could also be sufficient depending on England's concurrent match against Panama. Despite the promising position, Semenyo emphasised the squad's determination to avoid complacency.

"All the players are happy and content with what's going on right now," he said. "We're not trying to get ahead of ourselves." He added that whilst every player is ambitious to progress, the immediate focus remains on solidifying qualification before considering the next stage.