Ghana are putting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi through a specialised training regime designed specifically to counter the aerial threat posed by England’s corners, with the coaching staff simulating the physical intensity they expect to face in Boston on Tuesday.
Preparing for the physical challenge of England’s set-pieces
Goalkeeping coach Daniel Gasper has disclosed the detailed preparations his department is undertaking, singling out the physicality of England’s approach from dead-ball situations. “England are obviously one of the best teams in the world. They have certain characteristics and a style of play, and we’re exposing our goalkeepers to those conditions,” Gasper said. “We’re preparing them not only for the timing of catching and punching, but also the physical challenge they’ll face. I have no doubt our goalkeepers are prepared for all the conditions against England.”
The focus on corners is a direct response to the threat posed by Declan Rice’s deliveries and the tactical playbook devised by England’s assistant manager, Anthony Barry. Rice has developed into a major set-piece weapon under the guidance of Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nico Jover, and has stated that every time he takes a corner or wide free-kick he feels he can “get an assist or make something happen that’s dangerous”. His output backs that up: in the 2025‑26 Premier League season, Rice recorded five assists from corner kicks. Barry, widely recognised for his expertise in dead-ball situations, has a strong working relationship with head coach Thomas Tuchel, having previously worked alongside him at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Ati-Zigi, 29, is Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper and a starter at the 2022 World Cup. He plays his club football for Swiss side St Gallen and was named Goalkeeper of the Season in the Swiss Super League for the 2022‑23 campaign. However, he was substituted at half-time in Ghana’s opening Group L match against Panama due to injury, raising questions over his fitness for the England encounter.
Group L stakes
Tuesday’s match at Boston Stadium will likely determine who finishes top of Group L. England currently lead the group with three points and a goal difference of +2 after a 4‑2 victory over Croatia. Ghana are second with three points and a +1 goal difference, having squeezed past Panama 1‑0 courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi. The group winners face a third-placed team in the last 32; finishing second would send the runner-up to Toronto for the knockout round.
Under Tuchel, England qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a perfect record in UEFA Group K, winning all eight matches and not conceding a single goal. Against Croatia, Harry Kane scored a brace to equal Gary Lineker’s World Cup goal record, and England registered a tournament-high 20 shots inside the penalty area.
Ghana’s World Cup record includes five appearances, with their best performance a quarter-final run in 2010 when they were eliminated by Uruguay on penalties. They qualified for this tournament by topping CAF Group I, winning eight of ten matches. A notable pattern: Ghana have not scored before halftime in their last eight games, and eight of their last ten fixtures saw more goals after the interval than before.
The sides have met only once before, a 1‑1 draw in 2011. England, meanwhile, are unbeaten in eight World Cup fixtures against African opposition.
Partey visa controversy
Ghana will be without midfielder Thomas Partey for Tuesday’s match because of a visa dispute. Partey was denied a visa by Canadian authorities to enter the country for Ghana’s opening fixture against Panama in Toronto, owing to his ongoing legal proceedings in the UK. Ghana’s government has lodged a formal protest, describing the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair”, and is exploring legal and diplomatic avenues to challenge it. Partey’s legal team appealed, but a Canadian court dismissed the challenge. He was subsequently granted a visa by the United States for the matches against England and Croatia.
Partey stands trial on seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial has been subject to delays and is currently scheduled to begin on June 8, 2027. He will be eligible to play against England in Boston and against Croatia in Philadelphia, but his absence from the Panama match was a significant blow for Ghana.
