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[World 2022] Ghanaian Denis Odoi: “We respect Cristiano Ronaldo a lot but…”

Ghanaian defender Denis Odoi on his arrival in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. REUTERS - MOLLY DARLINGTON

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

3 mins

The Ghana team is making its return to the World Cup by facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on November 24 in Doha, in Group H of the 2022 World Cup. With the Black Stars, Club Brugge defender Denis Odoi wants to take an example from the Belgian formation which thwarted the forecasts by qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

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Denis Odoi, is what Saudi Arabia achieved against Argentina (2-1) a source of inspiration for you in view of Ghana's match against Portugal?

Denis Odoi

 : Of course, seeing what Saudi Arabia have achieved just proves that you have to play all the matches.

It's not because you are a smaller country than your opponent that everything is a foregone conclusion.

And then, based on my experience, this season in the Champions League, nobody would have given us a chance to go to the round of 16.

And yet, after four matches, we qualified.

So my takeaway is that when you play as a team, you can do anything.

What confidence did the Ghana team derive from their victory against Switzerland in a warm-up match?

I think the team was satisfied not only with this victory but also with the way they won this match, with their performance on the pitch.

So, it was not just a simple victory but also a solid performance.

But we know that the Portugal team will be of an even higher level and that the context will be different.

The Ghana team has evolved a lot in recent months, going from elimination in the first round of the African Cup of Nations to qualifying for the World Cup.

What do you think of this route?

It has been a positive journey.

I think sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to learn and I think that's what happened to us.

Obviously,

.

But we have to grow from this experience.

Only two Ghanaian players, brothers André and Jordan Ayew, have ever tasted a World Cup.

Is this inexperience a handicap for the Black Stars?

Of course, experience is always an important asset.

But you also have guys like me who have played in the Champions League for example and who gain experience from these other competitions.

Portugal beat Nigeria 4-0 in the warm-up match, without Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the latter seems fit to play against Ghana.

Is this worrying for you?

Obviously, we respect Cristiano Ronaldo enormously.

But maybe sometimes it also changes the dynamics of the game. I watched Portugal's game against Nigeria.

And obviously with Ronaldo you get a different dynamic in your team.

So we'll see what that brings.

To (re) read ► 2022 World Cup: schedule and match results

Statements taken at a press conference

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