Ghana starting left-back Gideon Mensah made it clear that facing England at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday afternoon is not a problem for him, but a stage. With Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke almost certain to appear in front of him, the Black Stars player did not hide his appetite for the showdown.
Mensah said playing against the very best on the pitch has always been his dream, and Saka and Madueke are among the most dangerous wide combinations in England's setup. Saka is reportedly recovering from an Achilles injury and trained with Thomas Tuchel's squad on Sunday and Monday as he pushes for a return to the starting lineup. Madueke won a penalty in the previous match against Croatia, helping Harry Kane convert from the retake.
Whoever England ultimately field, Mensah will carry the defensive burden on the left flank. He considers himself "built for big occasions and big players" and hopes to shift the narrative after the match, even with England widely seen as favorites: "Everyone says they're the favorites, but I want to change the tone once the game is over."
Mensah was a key figure in Ghana's 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto, especially effective in shutting down the opposition's wide threat in the second half, while the clean sheet also steadied the team's mindset. He said the squad arrived in Foxborough with the confidence of three points from the opener and without fear; many players in the squad have long played in the English leagues, and he himself has faced several members of the England squad before.
Mensah also stressed that England's threat from set pieces still needs close attention. Under Tuchel, the team has been ruthless in that area during qualifying, with Kane, Bellingham, Stones and Konsa remaining major threats from dead-ball situations. If Ghana want to keep their winning start going, one-on-one defending on the flanks and set-piece defense will be two questions they must answer.
