World Cup preview: Ghana
Coach: Milovan Rajevac
Key player: Sulley Muntari
Previous Best: Second round 2006
The Black Stars emerged as the surprise package at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, reaching the Round of 16 on their World Cup debut.
Having sealed their place at their second consecutive finals this year, the aim for South Africa is simple: equal the achievements of ’06, at the very least; and then go one better by advancing as far as possible.
Ghana’s Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac, even revealed his ambition to guide the national team all the way to the final itself. They certainly couldn’t be accused of lacking confidence.
Like the other five African teams in this year’s World Cup, Ghana will be desperate to confirm their status as the best side on the continent as the iconic tournament makes its way to Africa for the very first time.
And following their showing at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, they appear to stand every chance of doing just that.
After sealing victories against Angola and Nigeria, the Black Stars reached the final for a joint-record eighth time. On that occasion, though, they were edged out by the competition’s most successful ever team, Egypt. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect about that particular run to the final was the fact they’d done it without talismanic midfielder, Michael Essien, or Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari.
After making his peace with Rajevac, Muntari will be available for selection once again this summer. However, tireless midfield powerhouse Essien will not feature after falling to recover from a knee injury sustained in January while training with Ghana.
News that their best player won’t be fit to play this summer obviously came as a major blow to their World Cup aspirations; but just like Germany in the case of Michael Ballack, others will have to step up to the plate in his absence.
With a useful blend of experience and youth, the African side are well-equipped to escape one of the toughest groups at this summer’s tournament. Striker Asamoah Gyan and midfielder Kwando Asamoah are two of Ghana’s most promising rising stars, and each made a telling impact in January’s African Nations. A similarly impressive showing in June could ensure that Ghana match their own achievements of four years ago.
Meanwhile, the fact that their manager is Serbian will put them in good stead for their match against Serbia – arguably the strongest side in the group behind Germany. Rajevac is the third Serbian coach to take charge of the Black Stars in the space of just six years, and possesses the tactical knowhow to get the best out of this current Ghana side.
But the former Red Star Belgrade manager knows that escaping Group D will be no mean feat. Branded this summer’s “Group of Death” by many, it seems increasingly likely that Australia, Serbia and Ghana will all be vying for second place behind the much-fancied Germans.
Unlike in 2006, Ghana now have their first World Cup campaign under their belt and will be full of confidence after advancing through to the last 16 in Germany at the expense of the Czech Republic and USA.
However, without the midfield dynamism of Essien, Ghana may have to brace themselves for a premature exit.
Ghana squad
1 Daniel ADJEI (Liberty Professionals)
2 Hans SARPEI (Bayer Leverkusen)
3 Asamoah GYAN (Rennes)
4 John PANTSIL (Fulham)
5 John MENSAH (Sunderland)
6 Anthony ANNAN (Rosenborg)
7 Samuel INKOOM (Basle)
8 Jonathan MENSAH (Granada)
9 Derek BOATENG (Getafe)
10 Stephen APPIAH (Bologna)
11 Sulley MUNTARI (Inter Milan)
12 Prince TAGOE (Hoffenheim)
13 André AYEW (Arlese Avignon)
14 Matthew AMOAH (NAC Breda)
15 Isaac VORSAH (Hoffenheim)
16 Stephen AHORLU (Hearts of Lions)
17 Rahim AYEW (Zamalek)
18 Dominic ADIYIAH (AC Milan)
19 Lee ADDY (Bechem Chelsea)
20 Quincy OWUSU-ABEYIE (Al Sadd)
21 Kwadwo ASAMOAH (Udinese)
22 Richard KINGSON (Wigan)
23 Kevin-Prince BOATENG (Portsmouth)
Click here for previews of Ghana's Group D opponents:
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Australia-a12407
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Germany-a12411
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Serbia-a12417
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