The race to become Ghana's first-choice goalkeeper at the FIFA World Cup may have intensified after the draw against Wales, but former Black Stars midfielder Godwin Attram believes Carlos Queiroz's decision should come down to one crucial factor: which goalkeeper best fits his tactical blueprint.

With both Benjamin Asare and Lawrence Ati-Zigi featuring in either half of the friendly, debate has grown over who should start between the posts when Ghana launch their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17.

Attram, however, insists the answer lies not in public opinion but in the coach's game model.

"That depends entirely on how the coach wants to play," Attram said on Graphic Digital’s Soccer Chat live last Friday. "The goalkeeper must suit the chosen style."

The former PSV Eindhoven youth player, who later won league championships in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia during a professional career which also took him to Denmark and Egypt, Hearts believes the next stage of Ghana's evolution under Queiroz will not be about defensive organisation — an area he feels the team handled well against Wales — but about improving the way attacks are initiated from the back.

Against the Welsh, the Black Stars looked compact, disciplined and confident without the ball, yet their build-up play remains a work in progress.

"Defensively, we were well structured, disciplined and played with confidence," Attram observed. "Now it's about how we are going to build up and create opportunities."

For that reason, he believes the goalkeeper's role has become increasingly important in modern football.

The former captain of the Black Starlets side that won silver at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup identified four principal methods of build-up play: playing around the press, playing through central areas, attacking through wide channels or bypassing pressure with direct balls beyond the defensive line.

According to him, Queiroz's choice between Asare and Ati-Zigi should be determined by which goalkeeper is best equipped to execute the preferred approach.

"If the coach wants to build from the back, he must select the goalkeeper who is most comfortable with the ball at his feet," Attram explained. "Everything depends on how you want to build up to score goals."

While declining to publicly endorse either Asare or Atizi, Attram's analysis points to a selection process driven by tactical suitability rather than reputation. He also argued that team selection generally involves far more than technical ability.

As Queiroz finalises his plans for Panama, Attram -– Head Coach of Division One League side Attram De Visser FC --- believes the experienced Portuguese tactician will be assessing factors hidden from public view.

"The coach sees things that people outside don't see," he said. "Football is not only about ability. Body language, mentality, confidence and discipline all matter."

He also expects Ghana's technical team to tailor selections around Panama's strengths and weaknesses rather than simply fielding the most talented players available.

"The coach is analysing Panama and studying their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, he must choose the players who best fit his game plan."

Attram also revealed that he would have welcomed one additional warm-up match before the tournament.

A low-profile fixture against a club side in the United States, he suggested, could have provided valuable information on players returning from injury and younger squad members still fighting for places.

At the time of going to press, arrangements were underway for Ghana to face Honduras behind closed doors tomorrow (June 9) at the American University Stadium in Washington. 

"It could have been useful," he said. "We were not able to see Antoine Semenyo or Kwadwo Peprah after their injuries, and Ernest Nuamah only played 45 minutes. Another game would have allowed us to assess them over a full 90 minutes before the tournament starts."