Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said the nation's 33 million [1] citizens act as a collective force ahead of a World Cup match against England.

The statement serves as a psychological motivator for the Black Stars as they face a traditionally dominant English side in Group L. The match follows a period of logistical instability for the Ghanaian squad.

Speaking from the team's training camp at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island [4], Queiroz contrasted the symbolic imagery of the two nations. He said that while England features three lions [2] on its national shirt, Ghana possesses the support of its entire population.

"England have three lions on their shirt, we have 33 million," Queiroz said [1].

The team enters the fixture following a 1-0 victory over Panama [3]. However, the squad has dealt with significant personnel absences. Midfielder Thomas Partey was denied a visa to Canada [5], which forced him to miss the opening match of the tournament [5].

Queiroz used the training period in the U.S. to solidify the team's resolve despite these setbacks. The coach said that the national support system outweighs the prestige of the opponent's emblem.

Ghana's preparation in Rhode Island aims to maintain the momentum from their first win as they look to secure further points in the group stage. The clash against England represents one of the most significant challenges of the tournament for the West African side.

“"England have three lions on their shirt, we have 33 million."”

Queiroz is leveraging national identity and population scale to bridge the perceived gap in resources and prestige between Ghana and England. By framing the match as a battle of 'millions of lions' against three, the coach is attempting to transform the team's underdog status into a source of psychological strength while distracting from the disruption caused by Thomas Partey's absence.