Ghana v Australia: match preview

Ghana v Australia
Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Rustenburg
Kick-off: Sat June 19, 3pm BST

Ghana can go a long way to becoming Africa’s first qualifiers in the first African World Cup with defeat over an Australian side still licking its wounds after the mauling from Germany. This fascinating encounter, made more intriguing by Germany’s defeat by Serbia, pits one of the oldest teams in the tournament, who frankly looked their age against Germany, against one of the youngest, buoyed by their opening win over Serbia.




Australia, without the suspended Tim Cahill and the injured Vince Grella, may have to gamble on the gangling attacker Joshua Kennedy and the extremely rusty Harry Kewell in the last chance saloon. Gahan’s final training session at Rustenberg was delayed by two hours due to frozen pitches, but coach Milovan Rajevac is expected to name an unchanged side.
Key clash
Asamoah Gyan v Craig Moore: Australia’s defence looked ragged in the opening game with the vastly experienced Craig Moore and Lucas Neill exposed consistently during the Germany match. They will have to up their game considerably to handle the Black Stars' match-winner against Serbia, striker Asamoah Gyan.
Touchline duel
Milovan Rajevac v Pim Verbeek: Dutchman Pim Verbeek must feel like one of the most beleagured coaches here after being panned back in Australia as “Pim-becile” following the Germany game while Serbian Milovan Rajevac is enjoying hero status in Ghana while hardly being flavour of the month back in his native land following the victory over Serbia.
Talking tactics
It appears it is win or bust time for Verbeek so he may be compelled to introduce both Kennedy, Australia’s gangling answer to Peter Crouch, and Kewell, who has only played two minutes of football in six months because of groin problems.
What they are saying
Milovan Rajevac: "For us this is the match of the season, so we need to be very focussed and at our best because we know this is Australia’s last chance.”
Pim Verbeek: "We were all disappointed but we are all men and we take it on the chin. There’s still two games left and anything’s possible still.”
Teams (probable)
Ghana (4-2-3-1): Kingson; Pantsil, Mensah Vorsah, Sarpei; Annan, Boateng; Tagoe, Asamoah, Ayew; Gyan.
Australia (4-5-1): Schwarzer; Wilkshire, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield; Emerton, Culina, Garcia, Valeri, Kewell; Kennedy.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
Previous meetings P6 Ghana 1, Draws 1, Australia 4
1995 (Sydney, friendly): Australia 2 Ghana 1
1995 (Adelaide, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 0
1995 (Perth, friendly): Australia 0 Ghana 1
1996 (Durban, friendly): Australia 2 Ghana 0
2006 (London, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 1
2008 (Sydney, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 0
Fact: Australia have won just once in eight games in the World Cup finals.
Prediction: Ghana would move close to qualifying with a win and given Australia’s poor showing against the Germans, go for another African victory.