Sampson backs Ghana’s Black Princesses to make history against France

Ghana head coach Charles Sampson believes the Black Princesses are prepared to handle the pressure of their decisive final Group C match against France.

Ghana have three points from their opening two games and must win at Arena Sosnowiec to reach the knockout stages for the first time in the team’s history. The match will begin at 16:00 GMT.

Sampson said his players had responded positively in training and were ready for the tactical demands of the contest.

“It was good, the energy was up again, the girls are ready. This practice was just tactical, about how we want to play. Yesterday, the response was very good as well and so we are ready,” he said.

The coach said preparation for high-pressure situations had been a consistent part of the team’s work, but stressed that Ghana now needed to turn that preparation into a performance.

“We know what pressure entails and that's what we've always been preparing for, so now it's just up to us to go out and deliver,” Sampson added.

He expects France to offer a challenge that is comparable to Ghana’s in technical quality, while also identifying the opposition’s defensive approach as an area his side must read carefully.

“We are hoping and praying that tomorrow will be our day. I see the French team as almost a bit similar to us when it comes to technique, but tactically they play a little bit of a low, mid-block and that is to deceive you to feel more comfortable and come up so they can use the spaces behind,” he said.

“Those are the things we will be mindful of. We also know that in terms of physicality, technique and speed, we are a bit ahead of them and we're going to try to use that as an advantage.”

Sampson said Ghana’s intention was to control the match rather than rely on a cautious approach, with victory the clear objective.

“Our expectation going into this game is to be able to dominate and win the game,” he said.

A win would secure Ghana’s progress to the knockout stages and set a new milestone for the Black Princesses.