Ghana at the World Cup

Ghana

 

Manager:Milovan Rajevac (Serbian)

Captain: Stephen Appiah

FIFA World Ranking: 38

World Cup Appearances: 1

Best World Cup: Last Sixteen – 2006

 

 

Profile:

 

Although the name ‘Ghana’ may not ring too many bells with most part-time international football followers, they have actually been somewhat of a powerhouse nation back in the African continent. Ghana have made 16 appearances in the African Cup of Nations, winning the tournament on five occasions, dominating during the 60’s. However, although they were the team to beat in Africa 50 years ago, they didn’t assert themselves when it came to World Cup qualification, failing to qualify for the World Cup during their most successful period.

 

Ghana have been an irregular entry into the World Cup, just 1 in fact, and, although they have made regular appearances in the African Cup of Nations, they haven’t actually won the tournament since 1982, over 26 years ago. This huge baron run has reflected in their World Cup bids but their did break their duck and evidentally booked their first World Cup date back in Germany 2006. They arrived in Germany as an unknown quantity and left with many admirers. They shocked most people by bypassing an extremely tough group consisting of USA, Czech Republic & eventual winners Italy.

 

Ghana were eventually knocked out by Brazil in the last sixteen but it’s clear that Ghana enjoyed their first ever World Cup and their taste for the big stage has aided them in completing a quick fire qualification double for the finals. Ghana were the first African nation, with the exception of the hosts, to qualify for South Africa 2010.

 

 

Manager:

 

To be honest, we don’t know an awful lot about Ghana’s coach. Milovan Rajevac is a former Serbian Player and he spent all his playing days in Serbia. On the same token, his three stints as club manager were also spent in his home country of Serbia, managing; Red Star Belgrade, FK Vojvodina & FK Borac. This spell in charge of Ghana is his first at an international level.

 

 

 

Key Player:

 

Michael Essien –

 

The Chelsea midfielder will be the biggest celebrity in the Ghana camp and arguably one of their more crucial players. Despite being 26 years old, Essien has been capped 45 times for his country, scoring eight goals in the process. He is by far and away the most experienced player within the Ghana camp in terms of playing with World Class players, on the biggest stage and in the biggest events. He is a player with an abundance of strength, a solid defensive midfielder, sometimes a lethal shooter, while you’ll never see Essien bottling out of a 50/50 tackle. Ghana may struggle to keep the ball for large periods of time and it will be down to Essien to take a stranglehold of the game but, more importantly, thwart the many opposition attacks that come their way.

 

 

Stephen Appiah –

 

Appiah captained Ghana in their first ever World Cup and he is set to do the exact same in 2010, but will he match the feat of 2006 which seen them reach the last sixteen. He was actually the player which crushed Czech dreams back in 2006 and it’s obvious that Stephen Appiah loves the mantle of being captain. Appiah has been around the block at club level, mainly in the Italian division, a league where defensive qualities are crucial, and these qualities will be needed if Ghana are to enjoy their second appearance in a World Cup.

 

 

 

Strengths:

 

Back in Germany 2006, Ghana were a very solid outfit and an awkward side to break down, as Italy, Usa and the Czech’s found out. The Italians were the only one of the three to beat Ghana but even they struggled to break a workmanlike Ghana defence down. Michael Essien & Stephen Appiah are a rigid backbone to an unheard of defensive line while Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari can also provide an adequate service in the centre of the park. Rarely do Ghana thump sides, they often win games by the odd goal, absorbing the opposition attacks and then hitting them on the break. Ghana will be a frustrating team to play against in the summer, one us English fans hope we don’t draw.

 

 

Weakness:

 

Their lack of fire-power. During the group stage of qualifying, Ghana never manage more than 3 goals in a single game. Ghana are short of quality forwards, with Asamoah Gyan & Matthew Amoah the likely striking partnership for Ghana this summer. The pair average under a goal every other game and, although that may seem an OK average, we must take into consideration that they have come up against some ordinary African nations and not against the qualify defences that will await them in South Africa. It will be a test for their attackers to say the least.

 

 

 

Qualification:

 

 

Sector: Africa

Group: D

Position: 1st

Win-Draw-Lose: 4-1-1

Goals Scored: 9

Goals Conceded: 3

 

 

 

 

Qualifying statistics:

 

 

• Ghana were the first African nation to book their place in the South African World Cup, securing qualification with two games to spare.

• Matthew Amoah finished as Ghana’s top goalscorer during qualifying, scoring a reasonable tally of 5.

• Richard Kingson, the Ghana goalkeeper, was the only player to partake in each of Ghana’s 12 qualifying encounters.

• Ghana received 17 yellow cards during qualification, an average of 1.42, but didn’t receive a single red card. Perhaps their new Serbian coach has installed discipline into the Ghana ranks.

 

 

World Cup Potential: 2/5

 

Ghana will be a difficult group opponent, with their awkward set up and style of play, but their solid tactics won’t be good enough against sides that will punish them if given half-a-chance. Their defence will frustrate opposing teams and should earn them a few points in the group, but their apparent lack of fire-power does leave them extremely vulnerable against the better sides. Expect the midfielders to chip in with a few this summer.

 

 

Current World Cup Odds: 66/1 – PaddyPower

 

World Cup Group D - Table

Rank	Team	Matches / Points
	Germany	0 Matches / 0 Points
	Australia	0 Matches / 0 Points
	Serbia	0 Matches / 0 Points
	Ghana	0 Matches / 0 Points

World Cup Fixtures and Results