Heartbroken Gyan vows to bounce back

Striker Asamoah Gyan brushed off his last-minute penalty heartache and vowed to bounce back after Ghana lost to Uruguay and failed to become the first World Cup semi-finalists from Africa.

France-based Gyan had a chance to win a match deadlocked at 1-1 with the final kick of extra time after Uruguay striker Luis Suarez handled a Dominic Adiyiah header on the line to prevent a certain goal.

But Gyan crashed his penalty against the crossbar and although he netted in the shoot-out, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved two tame kicks and the South Americans won 4-2 to clinch a Tuesday showdown with Netherlands.

"I'll bounce back, I'm strong mentally. I had the courage to take the penalty, but that's normal as I'm the penalty taker," said Gyan.

"Now he (Suarez) is the hero in his country. The ball was going in, he stopped it and I missed the penalty. That's the way it is."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez defended Suarez, who was red carded by the Portuguese referee only to celebrate in the tunnel after watching Gyan fail to give Africa a first World Cup semi-finalist.

"It was instinctive, he instinctively put his hand out to the ball and was red carded and will miss the next game," Tabarez said.


"He has paid for the consequences of his actions. He was not to know that Ghana would miss the resulting penalty. It is not fair to say that we cheated our way to victory."

Argentina and Germany reignite a great rivalry on Saturday while Spain are expected to overcome Paraguay in the last quarter-final.

When they met at the same stage four years ago, hosts Germany went through 4-2 on penalties in Berlin after over-cautious Argentina left Lionel Messi on the bench.

"The players are thinking about going on to the pitch, in getting their revenge," warned Argentina coach and former midfield maestro Diego Maradona.

Germany will be boosted by the presence of Chancellor Angela Merkel in Cape Town and coach Joachim Loew hopes his young team can impress her by riding the wave of beating England.

"There is a very positive feeling in the team. We have gained a lot of confidence from taking a victory against England. We have found weaknesses in the Argentine side, but I will keep that information for my players."

A Spanish concern is that Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has yet to find the net, but coach Vicente Del Bosque brushed aside any criticism.

"Fernando is our centre forward. He has put in a lot of minutes in four matches and will continue to do so and we have absolute confidence in him," the coach insisted.

Paraguay have not conceded a goal in three matches since a 1-1 draw with then reigning champions Italy in their opening group game.

But they have scored only three times, needing penalties to squeeze past Japan in the second round following a woeful 0-0 stalemate.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk reacted furiously over suggestions that Arjen Robben cheated in the thrilling 2-1 defeat of Brazil in Port Elizabeth.

The midfielder was accused of deliberately diving to win a free kick which resulted in the Dutch drawing level with Brazil eight minutes after the break.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar came off his line to try and punch the kick clear but collided with Felipe Melo and the ball skimmed off the the head of the midfielder into the net.

In another match-turning incident, Melo was shown a red card for a stamp on Robben.

"Our opponents tried to provoke us more than we tried to provoke them. You could see that from the beginning," insisted Van Marwijk.


(source: iol.co.za)

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Uruguay 1:1 Ghana; Uruguay win 4-2 on pens: match report

Too, too cruel. Africa’s heart was broken here at Soccer City when Ghana’s dream of becoming the first team from the continent ever to reach the semi-final of a World Cup died the most dramatic death after a penalty shoot-out.

In the most sensational, heart-rending finish to any game at this tournament, it just seemed impossibly unfair that Asamoah Gyan, the most magnificent and tireless of all Ghana's Black Stars, should blow their historic opportunity by missing a penalty with the last kick after 120 minutes of compelling drama.

Instead, even though Gyan showed extraordinary courage to then convert Ghana’s first spot kick in the shoot-out, there seemed a painful inevitability about them then losing 4-2, courtesy of two excellent saves from Uruguay’s Lazio keeper Fernando Muslera to thwart John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah.

So, football’s new frontier was eclipsed by one of its oldest international guardians as South America’s two-time champions Uruguay celebrated wildly their first semi-final appearance for 40 years. And they deserved it.

But once the Uruguayan euphoria died down, they had to face the reality that they must take on Holland in Tuesday’s semi-final at Cape Town without their star striker Luis Suárez, who was sent off after deliberately handling on the line which led to Gyan’s missed penalty, and their best defender, Jorge Fucile, suspended after picking up a booking.


What an extraordinary occasion this was. The ANC chairwoman, Baleka Mbete, had sent a message on the eve of the game that “on your shoulders rest the football dreams of mother Africa”. And, even bearing that sort of pressure, these heroes let nobody down.

Even Sulley Muntari, who was almost sent home after a row with the coach Milovan Rajevac two weeks ago, was transformed from saint to sinner with the magnificent 30-yard strike on the stroke of half-time which put Ghana ahead.

It was answered by a Diego Forlán free-kick after 55 minutes. No surprise, there. Once again, the Atlético Madrid man offered a performance of the highest class, which was sealed when his free-kick bent one way then the other in a classic Jabulani jumble, leaving Richard Kingson utterly befuddled.

Yet nobody out there was more splendid than Gyan, who has, like Forlán, been one of the outstanding players in the tournament.

Once again, he gave everything, ploughing his lonely furrow up front, a thorn in the streetwise Uruguyan defence and when his moment came, it felt fitting that he would have the chance to steer his side to glory.

As both sides never stopped chasing victory in a compelling period of extra time, astonishing last second drama descended.

Adiyiah’s first shot was kicked off the line by Suárez but the striker was given a red card when he punched Adiyiah’s follow-up header off the line.

Yet, to his horror, Gyan’s penalty kick struck the bar and he could only hold his head in his hands. There could be no time for self-pity, though. Minutes later, he fearlessly converted his shoot-out kick.

The force had disappeared, though. Sunderland’s Mensah hit a weak one which Muslera saved with a dive to his left and, though Maximiliano Pereira’s wild miss gave them hope, the Uruguayan keeper made a wonderful one-handed stop off Adiyiah.

All it then needed was for Uruguay to seal victory with an outrageous dinked chip down the centre of the goal from substitute Sebastián Abreu, which sparked mad celebrations and a new dream that the original World Cup winners really could prevail 80 years on.


(source: telegraph.co.uk)

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USA v Ghana: match preview

Round of 16
USA v Ghana
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Kick-off: Sat June 26, 7.30pm BST
Revenge will be on the menu for the United States. Four years ago, Ghana claimed second place behind eventual champions Italy from Group E after beating the Americans 2-1.
The victors will fancy their chances in a quarter-final against the winners of the last 16 tie between Uruguay and South Korea.
USA have no new injury concerns but Robbie Findley is available again after suspension and is expected to return to attack.
Ghana will again be without the injured Isaac Vorsah.

Touchline duel
Bob Bradley v Milovan Rajevac: Bradley comes from a family of athletes; his brother Scott played baseball for the Seattle Mariners in the 1980s and is the current coach at Princeton University. And his son, Michael, now with Herenveen, has been key to their success.
With Claude Le Roy's departure after a relatively disappointing third-place finish at the 2008 Cup of Nations on home soil, Milovan Rajevac took over leadership of the Black Stars and the belief is that an African country can prosper on home soil.
Talking tactics
The return to attack of Robbie Findley could prove crucial.
Maurice Edu is likely to retain a starting berth after coming in for Jose Francisco Torres.
Ghana could be without centre-back Isaac Vorsah as the defender struggles to win his fitness battle.
Vorsah missed the draw against Australia through injury and was hoping to be in contention for the loss to Germany, however Rajevac was forced to start him on the bench.
Key clash
Landon Donovan v John Mensah: Donovan is enjoying a terrific spell but will find Mensah as the man detailed to halt his progress and the USA’s passage to the last eight.
Sunderland are still considering whether to sign Mensah permanently; this game could give Steve Bruce some food for thought.
Last season Donovan scored for Everton against Sunderland – and Mensah.
What they say
Bob Bradley: “"I think there are six (players) on both sides from the match in 2006 so there is some element of that, but now, four years later, things have changed. And, speaking for ourselves, we are looking ahead to 90 minutes or more, and to doing it -- and moving along. We want to go far in this tournament and that is what our focus is on.”
Milovan Rajevac: "We have created wonderful opportunities to score but we have had a bit of bad luck. Perhaps we were missing a bit of concentration. We can't finish it off so hopefully going forward we will score proper, real goals and I'd be very happy to see this in the last 16."
Teams
USA (4-4-2): Howard; Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra; Donovan, Bradley, Edu, Dempsey; Altidore, Findley.
Ghana (4-3-3): Kingson; Pantsil, John Mensah, Addy, Sarpei; K-P Boateng, Anna, Asomoah; Tagoe, Gyan, A Ayew.
Referee: Victor Kassai (Hungary).
Previous meetings
Played 1: Ghana 1 win, Draws 0, USA 0
2006: (Nuremburg, WC): Ghana 2 USA 1
Fact: Ghana’s last three World Cup goals have all been penalties.
Prediction: Even the President is backing a USA success. Expect a win for the star spangled banner.

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Ghana 0 Germany 1: match report

They cleared one off the line, saw their goal lead a charmed life more than once on the odd occasion and came under threat more often than they would have cared for. Then we remembered this was Germany we were talking about.
So naturally, following the time-honoured rules of global football, there was an inevitability that even with their young, largely rookie team, they would keep their nerve here at Soccer City to eke out the win which ensures the shoot out with England in the last-16.

Bring on the grand collision, their players, coach Joachim Low and thousands of fans were all agreed about afterwards. “It’s going to be wonderful,” boomed Low, savouring another crack at Fabio Capello after the Mannschaft’s 2-1 defeat in Berlin under his stewardship in 2008.
In the end, it took a quite fabulous goal from Mesut Ozil in the second half to ensure they took control of group D and booked a tie in Bloemfontein on Sunday which is never going to be knowingly undersold.
Yet, in defeat, it was party time for Ghana too, as they became the first African team to make it through to the knock out stages of the continent’s first World Cup.
And after a remarkably open game with chances squandered – and saved - in profusion at both ends, England could afford to look at this German side and believe that, though full of verve and inspired by a brilliant captain Philipp Lahm, they can be embarrassed at the back, as Ghana’s lone ranger up front Asamoah Gyan demonstrated. In short, they’re beatable.
So, Germany did not get knocked out of the group stages for the first time ever but it did turn out to be an historic evening thanks to the intriguing sub-plot when the Germans announced that Jerome Boateng would start at full back.
It meant that, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, two brothers were pitted on opposite sides in a game at the finals, with Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince turning out in Ghana’s midfield.
Two silent brothers, too, as they still happen to be feuding over Kevin-Prince’s tackle in the FA Cup final which did for Michael Ballack’s World Cup. By the end, they could both celebrate, what with Kevin-Prince having been given a surprisingly comfy ride by Ballack’s supposedly angry teammates and Jerome having made one critical intervention which prevented Prince Tagoe’s far post header providing an instant response to Ozil’s goal.
For starters, though, it was Kevin-Prince, who gave up the chance to play for Germany and decided to throw in his lot with the land of his Ghanaian father, making the biggest impression, a lovely through ball offering Gyan the first chance of the game.
Gyan’s control let him down but the striker who won man of the match awards in Ghana’s first two games soon proved a menace all night to Germany with his power and pace, at one point only being checked with a last-ditch tackle by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Still, cheered on by a noisy contingent delighting in the idea of another dance with the old enemy, Germany proved the better side for most of the evening from the moment Cacau, a more than useful replacement for the supended Miroslav Klose, unloaded their first shot.
Wigan’s Richard Kingson made several tremendous saves, none better than when he spread himself wide as Ozil, freed on goal, cut in from the left and tried to side foot past him.
It was a good job Germany had the experience and excellence of Lahm to help them through. One minute he was forging forward into the opposition box, being betrayed only by his final cross, and the next having to funnel back and clear a Gyan header from a corner off the line with the calmness of a man playing a captain’s innings. There were a few cries for handball, but it was more chest than arm.
Andrew Ayew, the excellent winger with a talent straight out of the gene pool of his dad, the great African pioneer Abedi Pele, floated another tantalising cross in for Gyan, which was glanced just past the post. This was becoming an uncomfortable ride for the 2006 finalists.
Kingson, who rarely gets a look in at Wigan, again made a fine scrambling stop from a Schweinsteiger free kick, but there was nothing he could do about Ozil’s dazzling skill on the hour when found on the edge of the box by Muller, the Werder Bremen midfielder unleashed a searing left foot volley. A wonderful goal executed by one of the players of the tournament.
Ghana tried to surge back but each time but just when it looked as if Ayew was about to pull the trigger and equalise, the tireless Lahm made an even more remarkable last-ditch tackle to stop Ayew from equalising.
Lahm had been every inch as splendid as John Terry for England earlier in the day, the embodiment of German big match efficiency just as the Chelsea man had stood for John Bull spirit earlier. Two nations cannot wait for them now to pit their extraordinary wills to win against each other.

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Germans insist no Boateng vendetta

Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff was adamant his side wouldn't target Ghana forward Kevin-Prince Boateng in the final Group D clash on Wednesday night.

Boateng became public enemy No.1 in Germany after his vicious tackle on Michael Ballack in last month's FA Cup final ruled the German captain and Chelsea midfielder out of what probably would have been his last World Cup finals.

The incident between the pair, with Boateng playing for Portsmouth at the time, was the latest instalment in a run of aggressive incidents between the two players that goes back to the pair both playing in the Bundesliga.

But despite widespread anger towards him, Bierhoff insists the German players won't go out to seek their own brand of justice on Wednesday night.

"I do not think it would be right for us to use our emotions or feelings and channel them against a single person," Bierhoff told Sky Sports.

"Quite irrespective of who is on the pitch for Ghana, we have to concentrate on the game and avoid being provoked, because we will not be playing against Kevin-Prince Boateng, but against Ghana."


Despite hammering Australia 4-0 in the Group D opener, Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany last Friday appears to have rocked the confidence in the Germany camp as newspaper Bild revealed the Germans have booked a flight home from South Africa for Thursday night, should they bow out of the tournament.

According to the newspaper, the knives are already being sharpened for coach Joachim Loew, who took over from 2006 coach Jurgen Klinsmann at the end of that tournament.

Bierhoff and Loew are apparently on one side of a power struggle within German football against German FA (DFB) technical director Matthias Sammer and president Theo Zwanziger that has become increasingly bitter since a nasty pay dispute involving Bierhoff last year.

But despite the political posturing and losing striker Miroslav Klose to suspension following his dismissal against Serbia, Loew is adamant Germany will come away with the win, ensuring its qualification to next round.

"I don't think such a defeat will send us into headless-chicken mode," he told The Local.

"We can take some confidence. We played with our heads up, there is a mood of defiance in the air and everyone is sure we can reach the last 16."

"Germany has the will-power, the skills and the belief to put a defeat like this behind us, there is no resignation in the camp or self-doubt," he said.

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Milovan Rajevac reveals extra motivation

Everything is still to play for in Group D but for Ghana, the honour of keeping an African presence in the round of 16 remains the greatest motivation.

Following the elimination of host nation South Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria while Ivory Coast and Algeria maintain slim hopes of going through, the high-flying Black Stars have one in front and only need to avoid defeat against Germany today in order to be sure of going through.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac wants the Black Stars to provide everyone in Africa with something to cheer about and is counting on the Africa support for his team.

“By being the only African team that has realistic qualification chances, most of the African fans will be behind us,” Rajevac said. “It will give us extra motivation.”


Ghana started off with a 1-0 win over Serbia and held Australia to a 1-1 draw, results which has put the Black Stars in the lead in the group with four points, one better than Germany and Serbia with Australia on a point.

“Of course it is good for us. We are happy to be in this position. It also means it is an obligation for us if we have to advance to the next stage, but it does not add any pressure,” Rajevac told a news conference ahead of the Group D clash.

“But we have a real chance and there is a strong sense of belief in this team.”

Rajevac says Ghana were better placed to advance from the group against a side who have remained favourites since the draw was announced. But he hopes the shortcomings in the German team can be exploited.

“The only thing I can mention is they (Germany) might have some psychological problems because it is a decisive game for the Germans. It is a final game for Germany. I’ll have to see how these weaknesses are reflected on the pitch.”

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Ghana v Germany: match preview

Group D

Ghana v Germany
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Wed June 23, 7.30pm BST
TV: ITV1 7pm, ITV HD 7pm

It’s advantage Ghana as they are set to become the first – and perhaps only – African qualifiers at the continent’s first World Cup.

The pressure is on Joachim Löw’s Germany, the subject of criticism back home and at the centre of a political power struggle, with his team having to produce the sort of form which saw them sweep away Australia in the opening game.

With Miroslav Klose suspended, much will rest for Germany on Lukas Podolski’s predatory instincts, while Ghana still have Sulley Muntari, who was nearly sent home for a sulking rant when he only played a bit part in the first two matches, back on message and first choice centre backs, captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah back after injury.

Key clash

The power and pace of Asamoah Gyan, man of the match and match winner in his opening two games, will provide a stern test for a German centre back pairing of Mertesacker and Friedrich which can be made to look vulnerable


Touchline duel

Joachim Löw v Milovan Rajevac: The Germany manager is the man under pressure, that celebrated black thatch liable to turn grey during the game if he cannot win his tactical duel with the wily Milovan Rajevac, who has already shown his authority with his disciplinarian handling of Muntari.

Talking tactics

With Miroslav Klose suspended, Low is considering changing formation and going with two strikers.

Cacau, the Brazilian-born forward, is set to win his 11th cap in place of Klose and Löw could push Lukas Podolski forward.

Ghana are likely field German-born Kevin-Prince Boateng as they look to move into round two.

What they say

Milovan Rajevac: “"We gained a lot against Australia and we will learn from our mistakes for the Germany match, we will do our best. We only conceded one and it was a good goal and we always try to score.”
Joachim Löw: "Ghana is possibly Africa's last chance in the tournament and will be very motivated. It's not going to be a piece of cake, but we are confident that we have what it takes to beat Ghana."

Probable teams

Germany (4-2-3-1): 1 Neuer, 16 Lahm, 17 Mertesacker, 3 Friedrich, 14 Badstuber, 7 Schweinsteiger, 6 Khedira; 8 Özil, 13 Muller, 10 Podolski 19 Cacau
Subs: 12 Wiese, 22 Butt, 2 Jansen, 4 Aogo, 5 Tasci, 9 Kiessling, 15 Trochowski, 18 Kroos, 20 Boateng, 21 Marin, 23 Gomez Ghana (4-2-3-1): 22 Kingson, 4 Pantsil, 5 John Mensah, 15 Vorsah, 2 Sarpei; 6 Annan, 23 Boateng; 12 Tagoe, 21 Asamoah, 13 A Ayew, 3 Gyan
Subs: 1 Agyei, 16 Ahorlu, 7 Inkoom, 8 Jonathan Mensah, 9 D Boateng, 10 Appiah, 11 Muntari, 14 Amoah, 15 Vorsah, 17 I Ayew, 18 Adiyiah, 19 Addy, Owusu-Abeyie
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil).

Previous meetings

Played 1: Ghana 0, Draws 0, Germany 1

1993: (Bochum, friendly): Germany 6 Ghana 1

Fact: Germany have played African opposition just four times, beating Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon but losing to the Desert Foxes in 1982.

Prediction: After a rare defeat, by Serbia, the Germans will be like a wounded animal with Ghana the prey.

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Ghana 1 Australia 1: match report

One of of football’s enduring one-man soap operas offered another dramatic episode in Rustenburg when Harry Kewell’s brief World Cup odyssey ended with a desperately unfortunate red card and plenty of red mist.
A nation which has never truly taken its most talented soccer son to its bosom had to rub along without Kewell once again before just about salvaging their World Cup hopes with 10 men, while also regaining the pride they had squandered with their quite un-Australian capitulation to Germany.

For Ghana , in the 100th World Cup finals game played by an African nation, there was nothing but frustration that they could not take advantage of Kewell’s 25th-minute sending-off for handball on the line nor of the subsequent penalty they converted through Asamoah Gyan to home in on a place in the last 16.
Instead, perhaps paying the penalty for being a little too conservative, they will be left with a daunting last-match task against Germany at Soccer City on Wednesday, while Australia play Serbia in Nelspruit, with all four teams still in the qualification hunt.
So should England qualify – and, of course, you wouldn’t wager a farthing on that – it is still impossible to gauge which one of those Group D teams are likely to be their opponent in the last 16.
In all likelihood, the Socceroos will not make it with only one point but the fact they are still in the hunt is astonishing after the drama which enveloped the most enigmatic and talented player they have ever produced.
“It’s a shocker; we’re all devastated,” Kewell said afterwards. “It was a harsh refereeing decision. Was it a penalty? Maybe. Was it deliberate and did it deserve a red card? Of course not.”
Australia had been leading 1-0, through an 11th-minute Brett Holman goal, which had been gifted to him on the rebound after yet another error from a goalkeeper who found the Jabulani ball as slippery as a bar of soap. Marco Bresciano’s free-kick bounced up into Richard Kingson’s arms and out again.
But after 23 minutes, calamity struck for the Australians, when Jonathan Mensah smashed the ball from eight yards into Kewell’s upper arm and chest as he stood on the line. There was really no time for him to react but the experienced Italian referee, Roberto Rosetti, felt he had no alternative but to both award the penalty and give the former Liverpool star a straight red.
For Kewell, it was too much. He has battled for months to get fit for one last World Cup assault only for this desperate conclusion and he was still complaining vigorously for several minutes, while the Ghanaians celebrated Gyan’s perfectly executed penalty conversion with a perfectly executed dance routine.
Pim Verbeek, Australia’s coach, thought the referee had made a mistake, too because Kewell’s handball had not been deliberate. “He will be devastated,” said the Dutchman, who had answered a nation’s call to reintroduce the Galatasaray striker into the fray even though he was desperately rusty after a season in Turkey largely spent fighting injury.
In the build-up to the game, Kewell had lambasted the Australian press about their panning of the team after the Germany defeat, during which Verbek had been labelled “Pimbecile”. After Kewell’s exit, though, the Aussies certainly regained the respect of a nation as they fought tooth and nail to keep the Black Stars at bay, with the brilliant Gyan coming close on several occasions to finishing the job.
“Yeah, we all know the Australian spirit. The players told me about it – they said 'we’ll show everybody’ and they did,” Verbeek reckoned. “Great spirit was shown.” So great that there were moments, against all the odds in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium which had been turned green and gold for the afternoon, when they almost came close to snatching victory with chances squandered by Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire and Joshua Kennedy.
After surviving one final Ghanaian assault, they are still alive, just, which is astonishing considering how unlucky they have been to play 100 minutes over two games with just 10 men, following Tim Cahill’s harsh sending off against Germany. “We’ll have to go for it against Serbia,” Verbeek said. “All’s not lost yet.”

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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.

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Group D Betting Preview

Group D Outright Odds
Germany - 12.0
Australia - 151.0
Serbia - 67.0
Ghana - 81.0

Tournament specialists Germany are the favourites to top this tricky group where there is plenty of potential for the Nationalmannschaft to come unstuck. While it would be foolish to write off the Germans they are not the same force as in 2006 and the absence of captain Michael Ballack is a major blow. Expect six very hard fought games.

Australia remain seething after their controversial exit to Italy four years ago. Coach Pim Verbeek has set a target of reaching the last 16 but Socceroos fans are frustrated at his tendency to play 4-5-1 against stronger opponents. Most of the heroes of 2006 will feature with the motivation of facing England in the second round their main incentive.

Germany will cope without Ballack, who was one of their more experienced players, and have a squad full of young talent. Joachim Low has been loyal to stalwarts Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, who have both had dismal domestic seasons, but also has Bundesliga hotshot Stefan Kiessling to call upon. The Bayer Leverkusen star scored goals for fun last season and could be one of the stars of the World Cup if given a chance.

Ghana, just like Germany, have lost their own Chelsea star in Michael Essien. The Black Stars surprised many by reaching the African Cup of Nations final featuring several players from their World Under-20 winning team from last year. Coach Milovan Rajevac will have done his homework on his home country Serbia, but this team is likely to lack the savvy and experience to make it out of the group.



Serbia are dark horses to make a big impression in the World Cup. They finished ahead of France in the qualifying process and have some outstanding players like Nemanja Vidic, Milos Krasic and Dejan Stankovic, plus a super manager in Raddy Antic who has coached Real Madrid and Barcelona and knows how to get the best out of his gifted squad.

Betting Potential
While the bookies are naturally backing Germany to progress there is some value if you search around like a Serbia/Germany dual forecast to progress first and second at 6.50. Serbia to beat Ghana at 2.05 is super value as is over 2, 2.5 goals in the same game at 2.07. Expect goals in that opening match. Serbia are a tasty 4.51 to beat Germany with the draw an intriguing 3.43. Lots of value in other words.

To Qualify
Germany 1.17
Serbia 1.75
Ghana 2.40
Australia 3.50

Not to qualify
Australia 1.28
Ghana 1.67
Serbia 1.75
Germany 4.32

Best Bet
Over 2, 2.5 goals in Australia Ghana match at 2.08. Australia are a generous 3.10 to beat Ghana who are 2.29 with the draw at 3.12. Given that we expect both teams to lose their opener against Germany and Serbia respectively this will be a high tempo game with both teams needing to win to give themselves any chance of progressing. Picking a winner is tough but I expect goals and at better than evens odds snap this one up.

Outside Bet
Serbia to win the group at 4.14. This is their first World Cup as an independent nation and just like Croatia in 1998 hearing their own national anthem should provide even more incentive for them to perform. More importantly they have the players to cause any team problems and like the Croats 12 years ago will play with a fearlessness against the fancied Germans.

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Serbia 0-1 Ghana; Ghana gifts Africa first victory

Ghana’s Black Star liner set sail with a 1-0 victory over Serbia that sparked wild pan-African celebrations inside Loftus Versfeld Stadium and offered England a warning of what might lie ahead.

Should England qualify for the second round they will meet a side from this group, and will be in no doubt that a major challenge awaits.



Ghana’s victory came courtesy of an 84th minute Asamoah Gyan penalty, reward for a performance full of pace and enterprise that exposed their opponents, who finished with 10 men, as organised but limited. Ghana would pose a more quicksilver threat and some of England’s ailing centre halves may have shuddered at what they saw here.

For the second time in the day a game kicked off with empty seats in the ground, and those that stayed away missed two World Cup firsts. Serbia’s appearance was their World Cup finals debut as an independent nation, while the game was the first in which both goalkeepers have come from Wigan Athletic, Richard Kingson for Ghana and JJB team-mate Vladimir Stjokovic for their opponents.

With the crowd honking its support for Ghana in what is normally a fortress of Springbok rugby it was Stjokovic.who looked likely to face the busiest afternoon.

Quick, physical and direct, the Black Stars threatened to expose their opponents vaunted back four, tearing at Nemnaja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic and company in the early stages.

With Portsmouth’s Kevin Prince Boetang looking to release the searing quartet of Daniel Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Prince Tagoe and Andre Ayew, twice in the opening 21 minutes they threatened a goal.

On 19 minutes Ayew won a free-kick on the left and Boetang’s curled delivery was almost converted by defender John Mensah, though Vidic did just enough to prevent him heading goalwards.

Two minutes later Boetang again tested the Serbian back four with a cross that Gyan just failed to reach when a near-post connection would have tested Vladimir Stojkovic.

Having withstood the early onslaught Serbia began to impose their own more ponderous game with Inter Milan’s Dejan Stankovic establishing a toe-hold in midfield.

Set-pieces appeared their most likely threat, and an inventive free-kick saw centre-forward Marko Pantelic peel into space in front of the Ghana goal only for his first touch to betray him.

Stankovic then threatened to add Kingson’s name to the growing goalkeepers’ hall of shame in South Africa. His bobbling shot spat off the turf, but unlik Robert Green Kingson had his body behind the ball and his reputation survived. Stojkovic might have sympathised, though for all the industry it was the only shot on target of the first half.

Ayew should have at least doubled the quota after the re-start when Prince Tagoe’s exquisite cross eluded Vidic, but the Arles forward’s diving header was pushed wide of the post.

Serbia’s best chance came four minutes later when Nikola Zigic, the new Birmingham City signing who is the only man in the tournament taller than Peter Crouch, failed to convert with a aide-foot volley from six yards.

Gyan almost broke the deadlock moments later, hitting the post with a header from eight yards, and he did so again in the last minute of added time. By then however he had already secured an uplifting victory that will be embraced by an entire continent.

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Watch Serbia v Ghana Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Serbia v Ghana Live Streaming Online for Free


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Serbia v Ghana: match preview

Group D
Serbia v Ghana
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: Sun June 13, 3.00pm BST.

Ghana are the best African team at this tournament. They reached the final of the Cup of Nations in January and won the World Under-20 Championships last year.

In the absence of the injured Michael Essien, Milovan Rajevac will be looking to that new generation – Samuel Inkoom, Isaac Vorsah, Andre Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, Dominic Adiyah - to inspire his side. Sulley Muntari, of Inter, has recovered from a thigh injury.

The Serbs have Nemanja Vidic is back to lead the side after being unwell in the build up as Radomir Antic’s seek to justify their billing as one of the strongest outsiders in the tournament.



Touchline duel

Radomir Antic v Milovan Rajevac: The Serbs should be no surprise to Ghana: Rajevac is the Black Stars’ third Serb coach in the last eight years. Both coaches encourage a quick, one-touch passing game which, if they can overcame the conservatism typical of opening games, should make for an entertaining spectacle.

Talking tactics

Serbia have had a stingy defence in qualifying – although it looked decidedly shaky in their warm-up friendlies – and they will look to draw Ghana on to them before hitting them on the counter with their talented, pacy wingers, Milan Jovanovic and Milos Krasic.

Ghana are more patient and will look to dominate possession.

Key clash

Nemanja Vidic v Asamoah Gyan: The Manchester United centre back is one of the most imposing defensive presences in the world on his day so Gyan, the Rennes striker, prolific at international level, will have to be at his slippery best.

What they say

Milovan Rajevac: "I'm confident and full of hope. I hope the players will give the best of themselves. We want to do great things with this team. We're going to concentrate on the next game and we hope to leave the World Cup having achieved some good results.”

Dejan Stankovic: “We have been together for 20 months, this team, and luckily it has remained mostly the same. I am sure of this squad. Firstly, they’re amazing guys; secondly, they are really, really good players; and thirdly, we have scored a lot of goals, so there’s no reason to change anything.”

Teams

Serbia: (4-4-2): Stojkovic; Subotic, Ivanovic, Vidic, Kolarov; Krasic, Stankovic, Milijas, Jovanovic, Zigic, Pantelic.
Ghana (4-2-3-1): Kingson; Inkoom, Mensah, Vorsah, Sarpei; Annan, Appiah, Boateng, Asamoah, Muntari; Gyan.
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)

Previous meetings

None

Fact: Birmingham’s new Serbian striker Nikola Zigic scored 29 goals in the Spanish League for Valencia.

Prediction: Serbia are a force to reckon with, after winning a group including France, while Ghana are without Michael Essien. Expect Serbia to win.

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Team Profile Ghana

Confederation: CAF

Star Players: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah

Current FIFA Ranking: 32

Strengths: Excellent midfield

Weaknesses: Lack of striking options

Fans: Black Stars Supporters


Coach: Milovan Rajevac
Confederation: CAF
FIFA Ranking (Apr 10): 32
Previous Appearances: 1 (2006)

Background

The West African nation made its maiden appearance at the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006. They left a lasting impression on the minds of billions of people across the world as the only African country to make it to the Round of 16 in that tournament. They slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Italy in their first match, but recovered strongly to repeat that same scoreline in their favour against Czech Republic and surprised the USA with a 2-1 victory. The whole continent of Africa fell in love with the boys in black and white until Brazil shattered their World Cup dreams with a humiliating 3-0 defeat. The Ghanaians hope to revive their previous performance and do even better this time around.

How They Qualified

Ghana was the first African team to qualify for the World Cup after winning its first four matches against Benin, Mali and Sudan, thereby guaranteeing them a spot at Angola 2010. An early qualification meant that Ghana knew they were headed for the African Cup of Nations, and could prepare accordingly.

Strengths

Ghana’s midfield is star-studded and serves as the distribution centre for the wings towards its strikers. No wonder it became the first African team to qualify for the World Cup after winning its first four matches without conceding a goal. Ghana ended their qualification campaign with a draw against Mali.

Weaknesses

The team needs strikers that can create their own chances and score at any given time. The left back position has always been weak for Ghana, and the earlier it patches that hole the better. Meanwhile in midfield, star player Michael Essien is out due to injury, severely weakning this Black Stars outfit.

The Coach

Milovan Rajevac assumed this post in August 2008 from Frenchman Claude Le Roy. The 55-year-old was handling provincial club FK Borak through the UEFA Cup qualifiers before coming to Africa. Most of his career has been spent in his homeland Serbia with Red Star Belgrade being the highest-profile club he managed.
Star Men

Richard Kingson (Wigan Athletic)


Kingson is no doubt the number one goalkeeper for Ghana. He has been very consistent and his surveillance at the goal post is classic. He made many saves for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup and was superb in the qualifying campaign. He will be in his favourite 22 jersey for Ghana in the upcoming tournament in South Africa.

Sulley Muntari (Inter)


Despite his intermittent standoffs with the Ghana Football Association, the midfielder and left winger has been a regular for the senior national side. His thunderous strikes have sent chilling fears in the minds of world class goalkeepers. He doesn’t care where the ball is placed as he still makes good use of the slightest chance. Watch out for his usual left-footed pile-drivers.

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