Don’t let the clever backheel in the build up to Ghana’s 73rd minute equaliser fool you. This was not the Thomas Partey who ran the show for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
That one moment of star quality aside, Partey’s performance, during Ghana’s eventual 3-2 defeat to Portugal in their Group H opener, felt like a regression back to the midfielder’s disappointing early days at the Emirates Stadium.
Countless passes went awry. Tackles missed. Numerous opportunities to break the lines squandered. The Ghanaian edition of the Goal website even asked if Partey ‘should be benched?’ by Black Stars coach Otto Addo.
Partey, nearly 12 months ago, gave himself a 4/10 for his first year-and-a-half in Arsenal colours. The Iranian media weren’t quite so harsh on Thursday afternoon, but nor were they particularly complementary.
“(Partey) as a pale shadow of himself,” Sports World Ghana wrote in their post-match player ratings; handing the former Atletico Madrid enforcer the joint-worst rating (5/10) of any of those who featured during that topsy-turvy encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo and co.
“Failed to exert himself in the game as (midfield partner Abdul Salim) did all the work.”
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey disappoints as Ghana lose to Portugal
Now, Partey is not the first big-name Premier League star to underperform on the world stage. Joao Cancelo endured a pretty miserable evening during that very same game at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.
Kevin de Bruyne’s reaction to being handed the Man of the Match award following Belgium’s most undeserved of 1-0 wins over Canada, meanwhile, spoke volumes about his own display.
But if Ghana are to bounce back from their opening day defeat, with tough clashes against South Korea and Uruguay still to come in the group-stages, they’ll need more from their most high-profile performer. Much more.
“(Partey) is having a very good season,” former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told ITV Sport before kick-off. “He’s got a big role here because there are some inexperienced players around him. I’m still not convinced he’s got those leadership skills.
“He’s had a good season, he should be confident. But it’s a big challenge for him in the middle of the park to help the players around him.”
90 minutes later, Partey’s performance only provided more questions than answers.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
