please log in to view this image Kick Off 23:00 BST please log in to view this image USA open up their World Cup campaign with a match against Ghana, which given the strength of opposition in their group is one they can ill-afford to lose. With Germany and Portugal lurking in what could very well be the hardest group in the competition, both sides will be desperate to secure a vital win. Ghana are considered by some to be the best African team in the competition and will be hoping to at least match their impressive showing from the 2010 competition when the arm of Luis Suarez and a missed penalty denied them a semi-final place. Black Starsâ manager James Kwesi Appiah can call upon a reasonably experienced squad, with Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah and Michael Essien all at his disposal as Ghana look to negotiate their way out of a devilish group. Meanwhile USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann has shown he is not afraid to make the hard decisions omitting Landon Donovan in favour of younger, more mobile options. Consequently Klinsmann, will be looking for Clint Dempsey to lead the way with hopes of a breakout performance from AZ Alkmaar forward Aron Johannsson. PAST THREE MEETINGS⦠USA 1 (Donovan) Ghana 2 (Boateng, Gyan), World Cup, June 2010 Ghana 2(Dramani, Appiah) USA 1(Dempsey), World Cup, June 2006 please log in to view this image STATS⦠This is the third straight World Cup in which both sides are facing each other Ghana are the third African nation to make it to the World Cup quarter-finals â after Cameroon and Senegal. If it was not for Luis Suarezâs handball, they would have become the first African country to qualify to the semi-finals. If former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan scores twice in Brazil, then he will surpass Cameroon legend Roger Milla and become the top African goalscorer in the World Cup with six goals. USAâs best appearance in the World Cup was in 1930 where the Stars and Stripes finished third. Ghana scored 25 goals in the preliminary round, which is the most any African nation managed to net in the qualifiers. please log in to view this image
For those watching, the Norwegian lad in goal for Ghana, Adam Larsen Kwarasey, is one we have been linked with a couple of times in the past. http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/qpr-boss-interested-in-adam-kwarasey/
If Nani's was a sending off for Man U v Real last season (or the season before) then that should've been too. Ghana are quite a dirty side.
I'll admit, I was cheering for the US. And I felt much like I did for the playoff final for the second half! You could see when he scored his goal how much it meant to Brooks - especially after what happened earlier.
Was reading they have the most fans visiting Brazil - it's a popular game out there now and the fans care about the game. Good luck to them.
2 very poor teams, ghanas chelsea RW was abysmal as was every final ball. They are both going out early. Someone said about 10 years ago that in 20 years, there will be an african WC winner. Bollocks, were more likely to see wales qualify!
A friend of mine is there, from Atlanta. He loves the game, calls it 'football', and accompanied me to a midweek away game at Crystal Palace a few seasons back, with the enthusiasm of a real fan of the game.
I spent the entire game in iMessage conversations with mates in the US. Like me, they couldn't get over how poor Ghana's last ball was. The US are limited in quality, but determined and well organised. They might sneak a result against a demoralised Portugal. Of course Americans who are interested understand football, there's nothing difficult about it, its the simplest game in the world which is why its so popular, any idiot can understand it. What they universally hate is feigning injury, rolling around on the ground etc etc, and I can't really blame them. Some struggle with the innate unfairness of the game as well - the number of fluke/undeserved wins is much higher than in typical US team sports where possession (basketball) or territory (American Football) is usually converted into/points and wins.
