"If I Go, Yes. If I Don't Go, I Still Give Thanks to God." Inside Joseph Paintsil's World Cup Wait
With the World Cup weeks away and finding form with the LA Galaxy, Joseph Paintsil is focused on only one thing at a time ahead of potential the biggest moment of his career.
Speed kills.
It’s a phrase used so often in sports that it risks losing its meaning. But watching Joseph Paintsil for 90 minutes, the words take on new life. It comes as the FIFA World Cup looms, and Paintsil could be part of the most prestigious tournaments in sports.
Since returning from his hamstring injury, Paintsil has become one of the most important players in the LA Galaxy’s attack. The team looks different with him on the pitch, as his threat on the counter is harder to defend against in the open field.
Greg Vanney doesn’t mince words when describing what Paintsil brings to G’s since his return from injury.
“What he gives us is he’s fast as hell, and he can run behind anybody from anywhere at any moment,” said the Galaxy head coach. “It gives you something that the opposition really has to respect. It gives you something that the opposition is fearing at all times.”
That fear factor is not abstract. It changes how opposing defenses set up and how deep their lines sit. Paintsil’s pace gives the G’s an extra dimension and elevates the ceiling of the team.
What separates Paintsil from a one-dimensional speedster is his understanding of space and movement. His goal against FC Dallas was a perfect example as his perfectly timed run and positioning allowed him to exploit exactly what the defense was giving him.
In this moment, Paintsil reads that situation. He changes his run to attack space and get on the end of a through ball from Glesnes. You can see in real-time how Paintsil reads the situation and adjusts his body to make that run. The only thing missing is the finish from Elijah Wynder.
On his goal against Vancouver, Paintsil credited the combination with Lucas Sanabria as something the two had worked on in training, a pattern built on understanding how the Whitecaps want to play and attacking their buildup.
“The ball that Lucas gave me is something we learned, because we know how they want to play,” said Paintsil. “All I have to do is always be in between the keeper and the center back. My positioning with Lucas’s pass and the goal I scored was something amazing. Kudos and a very big thanks to Lucas for the assist.”
Being the fastest player on the field comes with a price. Paintsil is fouled and targeted by opponents who know they can’t beat him. Adding more physicality and strength towards Paintsil, the main way players look to combat his pace. It’s a pattern he has learned to recognize and manage. He was the most fouled player in LA’s match with Vancouver, and that’s not counting calls he didn’t get.
“They always try to frustrate me. The only thing frustrating me is just to kick me and try to make fouls, to always complain and mess with my mind,” said Paintsil to reporters. “
I know that’s what they are going to do kick me and try to get in my head. At the end of the day, I just let it go, focus on the game, keep it flowing, and try to help the team. That is the most important thing for me.”
It’s a maturity that has developed through experience. Paintsil has learned that reacting to provocation only takes him out of his game. Staying focused, staying disciplined, and letting his feet do the talking is the approach that serves him and the Galaxy best.
The hamstring injury that kept Paintsil sidelined in the early weeks of the season was not his first. It’s a recurring issue he has had to learn to manage carefully during his LA Galaxy career.
“I feel good now. I’m having my 90 minutes,” he said. “I’ve been having these hamstring injuries every season. Now I just need to know how to go about things and try to always keep fit.”
The World Cup looms large over this stretch of the season for many players across MLS, and Paintsil is no exception. Ghana’s qualification for the tournament means the biggest stage in world football is less than a month away, and the stakes have never been higher for him personally.
With Carlos Queiroz now taking charge of the Black Stars less than a month ago, it’s clear Paintsil is doing everything to stand out. Scoring goals is the best way to stay on the radar, especially since Queiroz has had no time with the Ghana national team.
“My focus is just to focus on the team, give everything for the team. If I’m performing in the team, why not?… I’m more focused on what is now than later,” he said about the upcoming World Cup.
“I would love to be there — Inshallah, by God’s grace, I think everything will be possible,” he said. “If I go, yes. If I don’t go, I still give thanks to God.”
A motivated Paintsil is a good thing for LA, and the Galaxy will keep benefiting from having one of the fastest and most dangerous wingers in the league back in top gear.