Introduction: A date with destiny
As Antoine Semenyo prepares to walk out with the World Cup on Tuesday, the Manchester City forward will carry the hopes of a nation still buzzing from a dance with history 16 years ago. Ghana, under veteran coach Carlos Queiroz, face an England side bristling with intent, but the Black Stars are determined to channel the spirit of 2010—when they came within a Luis Suárez handball of a historic semi-final spot.
Now 26, Semenyo was just a 10-year-old watching on television with his family in Bexleyheath, south-east London. The emotions of that night in Johannesburg remain vivid.
“I remember being at my uncle’s house, and we were screaming after the handball, thinking we were going through,” he recalled in a recent interview. “Watching Ghana play in the World Cup was so special. Mum, Dad, uncles, aunties, cousins all turn up to one house, and we would watch all the games together, celebrating and screaming.”
That family bond and raw passion are exactly what Queiroz hopes to harness against an England team transformed under Thomas Tuchel. The German’s intense, high-energy approach—dubbed “The Surge” within the camp—has made England one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides. But Ghana, with attacking weapons of their own, believe another African fairy tale is within reach.
The 2010 heartbreak and a nation’s belief
The images are etched in football folklore: Suárez’s deliberate goal-line handball in the 120th minute of the quarter-final against Uruguay, Asamoah Gyan’s penalty clattering the crossbar, and the subsequent shootout defeat that robbed Africa of its first semi-finalist. For Ghanaians of a certain generation, it remains a source of immense pride and lingering pain.
Semenyo, who chose to represent the Black Stars as a teenager despite eligibility for England, insists that legacy fuels rather than burdens the current squad. “Ghana came in for me when I was 19 or 20, so I was never going to turn it down,” he said. His journey from lower-league loans to a starring role at City mirrors the grit of this Ghana side—a blend of European-based talent and experienced domestic hands eager to make their mark.
Queiroz, who took Portugal to the semi-finals in 2006, knows the value of such narrative. In training, he has repeatedly shown clips of that 2010 run, highlighting the defensive discipline and fearless counter-attacks that nearly toppled the world order. “We are not here to make up numbers,” the Portuguese said. “The players understand what this means for Ghana, for Africa, and for themselves.”
England’s new identity under Tuchel
England enter the contest on a wave of momentum. Tuchel’s side opened their campaign with a statement win over Croatia, showcasing a high-tempo, suffocating press that overwhelmed their opponents in the second half. The tactical innovation, known internally as “Packetball”—a nod to the explosive energy bursts demanded—has unlocked the best of captain Harry Kane, who scored twice in that match.
However, Tuchel is known to keep his team selection under wraps until the last possible moment. “He sat down with the players to inform them who was starting in the opening game less than three hours before kick-off,” Sky Sports reported. That secrecy, combined with a fiercely competitive squad, has created a sense of unity and unpredictability that Ghana must overcome.
Key battles will define the evening: Semenyo’s direct running against an England backline marshalled by John Stones; the midfield duel between Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and England’s Jude Bellingham; and the touchline strategy clash between the wily Queiroz and the intense Tuchel. Ghana will look to exploit any spaces behind England’s advanced full-backs, while England will target quick transitions to release the pace of Bukayo Saka.
Quick Facts
Fixture: England vs Ghana, Group F
Date: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Kick-off: 8pm local time (1am BST, Wednesday)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Referee: TBC
World Cup 2010 flashback: Ghana reached the quarter-finals, only to lose on penalties to Uruguay after a dramatic Suárez handball.
The Semenyo factor: From London to the world stage
Semenyo’s rise has been remarkable. After breaking through at Bristol City, a loan at Southampton, and a big-money move to City, he has become one of the Premier League’s most versatile forwards. At international level, his pace and physicality provide Ghana with a potent outlet, and his connection to the English game offers unique insight.
“I grew up watching England, studying their players,” he admits. “But when I pull on that Ghana shirt, there is no split loyalty. I am 100 percent Black Star.” That conviction resonates with a squad eager to write a new chapter—one that perhaps begins with a shock result against the Group F favourites.
Key Takeaways
- Ghana, led by Carlos Queiroz, seek to replicate the heroics of their 2010 team, which came within a whisker of the semi-finals.
- Antoine Semenyo, the Manchester City forward, draws inspiration from watching that dramatic run as a child in London.
- Thomas Tuchel’s England have introduced an intense, high-energy style known as “The Surge,” making them a formidable opponent.
- Semenyo’s personal journey and links to both nations add emotional weight to the Group F showdown in Arlington.
- The midfield battle between Mohammed Kudus and Jude Bellingham could decide which side controls the game.