Ghana World Cup Squad Preview

Written by Tony Concannon Friday, 28 May 2010 10:58

World Cup Squad Previews

Ghana could well surprise a few people at this World Cup. Arguably, the strongest squad in Africa, the Black Stars were the only African side to progress beyond the first round in the 2006 World Cup, before losing to Brazil. This is only their second World Cup and they were the first African side to make it to South Africa, qualifying with ease.

Their main hopes rested on a powerhouse midfield of Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari and Chelsea's Michael Essien but Essien's withdrawal has dealt the country a severe blow. Backed by skipper Stephen Appiah (who has finally recovered from injury and now with Bologna in Serie A after almost 2 years out of club action), and complemented by new face Kevin-Prince Boateng, it shows both strength, skill and energy. Anthony Annan of Rosenborg in Norway is very highly rated and could play at a higher level, while Lokomotiv Moscow winger Haminu Dramani can be a tricky customer.

There are doubts over the goalkeeping position, but the defence should be ok. Fulham's John Pantsil missed most of the season through injury but is a steady right-back and will be fresh and raring to go. The Mensah duo of John and Jonathan will hope to use their experience and intelligence to keep out the goals. One of them played for Sunderland last season. The other didn't.

Coach Milovan Takevac's main problems comes in attack as they lack a regular and potent goalscorer. He will be hoping that Asamoah Gyan can continue the good form he has shown for Rennes in France and that Dominic Adiyiah can fulfil the potential that made AC Milan sign him up last year. Adiyiah was a star man in the Under-20 team that won the World Youth Cup in Egypt in 2009.

Ghana are in a tough group with Australia, Serbia and Germany, but I fancy them to go through. I think an African side will do well in South Africa and I'm going for Ghana. If they can beat Australia and get a result against Serbia they could be in with a chance. If not, I'm wrong! Whatever happens, it will be a very interesting group. It will also be interesting to see how the Germany team react to Kevin-Prince Boateng after his tackle ended Michael Ballack's World Cup hopes in the FA Cup final. Boateng is also a former German under-21 international but has recieved approval from Fifa to switch to Ghana. He may also face his brother, Jerome, who has been named in the Germany squad. Surely there can't be many (if any?) occasions when two brothers have lined up against each other in the World Cup finals. Answers in the comment box please!

The Ghana Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England) Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions) , Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germnay) Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland)

Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France)  Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy) Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway) Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) , Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England)

Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland) 

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