Queiroz chooses to focus on the team ahead of England clash

Partey missed the opening game, the 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto last week, after he was denied entry twice by the Canadian government, owing to the rape charges he’s facing in England. 

As the Black Stars face the Three Lions in Boston today, Queiroz was asked about Partey’s return...

"All my life I've never talked about the individual. My team played with confidence and resilience in the last game, and they played with only one thing on their mind and that was to fight for the win. Now it's a different game and we are going to introduce a few different players in our starting lineup, and I hope my team will be able to progress."

READ: Algeria coach happy to have World Cup fate in own hands after win against Jordan

From his previous spells at the World Cup, particularly with Iran, Queiroz frustrated teams with his rigid style of play, even during his tenure as the Egyptian national team coach. 

Could this be his plan again…against England?

"It's the modern game, it's always changing because who would've thought that a German coach would lead the English team so everything is changing in the game. They have a great coach and they have great players. We respect them but we have different cultures and identities in the football world, and the beauty of the game is you can put these cultures face to face."

Born in Nampula, Mozambique, Queiroz is a Portuguese national with strong African roots, and is now coaching his third African national team after South Africa in the early 2000’s, Egypt, and now the Black Stars. He’s got a full view of African football and what it offers to the world...