FIFA World Cup 2010 update; Germany vs Ghana half time report 0-0
German manager Joachim Loew opted to use Brazil-born Cacau as the lone striker since Miroslav Klose was suspended. Jerome Boateng made his World Cup debut in place of Holger Badstuber, which meant the new Manchester City signing lined up against half-brother Kevin-Prince.
Ghana manager Milovan Rajevac made just one significant change to the side that played out a 1-1 draw against Australia. He recalled the defender John Mensah, who has just recovered from an injury to take the place of Lee Addy.
Germany and Ghana have only had one match prior to this, Germany won that match 6 goals to 1. Ghana, were the only African team to get into the knock-out phases in 2006, and they have been awarded no less than 4 penalties in their 6 World Cup matches, from which they scored 3 goals.
Anyways let us focus on what turned out on the pitch. Ghana started the match in positive fashion in Johannesburg, the Africans showed little or no signs of sitting back and playing for a draw, which will eventually send them to the last 16. In the initial stages of the match, Germans did not get too many chances; Cacau got the first shot on target but was safely in the hands of Richard Kingson.
Germany though were happy to build slowly and gradually at Soccer City. Jonathan Mensah deflected a cross from Lukas Podolski forcing Ghana keeper Richard Kingson into a fabulous stop, but the keeper was up to it.
Just moment’s later Ghana put on a quick move, Asamoah Gyan had the entire goal to aim at from 16 yards, after being given the ball by Kwadwo Asamoah but his effort did not even make it to the keeper, as it was blocked by Lahm.
Five minutes later German captain Phillip Lahm made a brisk run down the ground, moving into the 6 yard box taking on the entire Ghanaian defence. He had the unmarked Cacau yelling for a pass, But Lahm decided to ignore his team mate and the move was killed.
Soon there was a chance for both teams at either ends, Asamoah Gyan's touch was too heavy as he had the goal keeper pretty much at his mercy, and another clear opening for Ghana went awry. German forward, Sami Khedira, found himself clear on the keeper after breaking the offside trap, but could not lift it over the keeper; undoubtedly that was the best opportunity of the half, credit to Kingson for another fantastic save.
That was not his last for the half though, on a long distance free kick from Schweinsteiger, Kingson made another instinctive save, as the Jabulani ball came at him swerving and moving all over.
After that the last 15 minutes were pretty pedestrian, and the first half ended 0-0.
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