🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England vs 🇬🇭 Ghana

England have a German manager for the first time ever — Thomas Tuchel — which is either a bold move or the punchline to a very long joke depending on your age. He did win the Champions League with Chelsea, which is more than any England manager has done, so perhaps don't mention the nationality.

Harry Kane is England's all-time top scorer and has never won a single trophy in his career. Not one. Cup finals, tournament semis — always the bridesmaid. He's 31 now. This is probably his best shot. Try to look like you knew that already.

Nine players in this squad have never been to a World Cup before. Tuchel clearly isn't interested in sentimentality, which fans either find exciting or terrifying depending on what the first match looks like.

England open against Croatia on June 17 — the exact team they beat to reach the 2018 final, who then beat them in the Euros semi-final. It's become England's recurring nightmare fixture. Mention this and watch a proper fan wince slightly.

The media will spend the whole tournament asking if England are going to 'bring it home.' Nobody agrees what home means in this context. It's been 60 years. If it comes up, nod slowly and look thoughtful rather than answering.

Ghana came within a single penalty kick of the World Cup semi-final in 2010 — an Asamoah Gyan penalty that hit the post in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay. Ghana fans have not forgotten this. Uruguay fans prefer not to be reminded of the circumstances either.

Mohammed Kudus of West Ham is their most dangerous player — the attacking midfielder had a brilliant Premier League season and is capable of producing something extraordinary at any moment. Worth watching even if Ghana go out early.

Ghana's 2022 World Cup was mixed — they beat South Korea but lost to Portugal and Uruguay, going out in the group stage. The squad has been refreshed with younger players since, which either means fresher legs or less experience depending on how you look at it.

Ghana are in Group L with England, Croatia and Panama. Qualifying is a stretch, but this is a team that came within a penalty of a World Cup semi-final. They're not here to make up numbers.

Ghana vs England is a fixture with added spice — many Ghana internationals play in the English Premier League and several were born in England. The social media discourse will be chaotic. You might want to prepare something to say about that.