Confidence is a huge thing in football
and that’s why we should expect the Black Stars to land another
victory at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Ghana played
very well against Serbia, with the African team controlling the match
and getting their rewards when Asamoah Gyan slotted home a late
penalty.
They don’t appear to be missing
Michael Essien too much and we shouldn’t forget that the team
reached the final of the African Nations Cup without the midfielder.
The central defensive partnership of John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah are
solid and the driving runs of Kevin Prince-Boateng and Prince Tagoe
should help them earn another win.
Australia are in disarray after losing
4-0 to Germany and it’s hard to see how they can recover in time to
get anything from this game. Pim Verbeek will have to manage without
the suspended Tim Cahill and it’s a puzzle why Harry Kewell was not
involved at any stage in the first match. Lucas Neill might struggle
to cope with Gyan’s pace and power, leading to just one conclusion.
PREDICTION:
GHANA TO WIN @1.90 with EXPEKT
Power Rating
Squad (3/5)
It is better than any other African side. Ghana can field a very strong first team, albeit one that is weak in attack but it is susceptible to injury, especially to its midfield powerhouse.
Squad (2.5/5)
Four years ago it would have been three out of five but as AC Milan discovered in the Champions League eventually time takes its toll no matter how great your ability.
Coach (2.5/5)
There are many followers of African football who feel the federation could have done a lot better than someone whose main level of expertise was qualifying minor Serb sides for the Uefa Cup.
Coach (3/5)
Abrasive – when it comes to giving his opinion of how poor football in Australia actually is – and overly cautious, Verbeek is not the inspirational character Hiddink was. He is, however, highly competent.
Attack (2/5)
A lot of Ghana’s play is reliant on breaks from midfield and Matthew Amoah is not quite good enough to shoulder the whole burden alone. The early rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations were not encouraging.
Attack (2/5)
Viduka and Kewell were a formidable combination in Germany but four years on, Viduka is in virtual international retirement and Kewell has a big load on his shoulders.
Defence (3.5/5)
One Rajevac’s real achievements has been to tighten up and toughen up the Ghana back-four and the midfielders who play in front of them. As the Czech Republic and the United States discovered, once Ghana are in front they are hard to peg back.
Defence (3/5)
Australia did not pick up all those clean sheets for nothing. Verbeek has invested plenty of time in a highly-efficient back four which is the main reason why they might fancy their chances against Ghana, who lack a world-class striker.