Stars focused to give USA a good game - Appiah

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah says the Black Stars are leaving nothing to chance in their bid to record a third successive victory over the USA at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

With the global showpiece just two days away from kick-off, Ghana are set to engage the Americans at the Estadio das Dunas on June 16 in an attempt to secure a third straight triumph, the two previous outings each ending on a 2-1 score line at the last two World Cups.


Speaking after the Black Stars comprehensive 4-0 victory over South Korea in Miami early Tuesday morning, Appiah, who was on the bench as an assistant coach on the last meeting in South Africa four years ago, is leaving no room for complacency ahead of the all-important tie on Monday.


“The United States have got a very good team,” he acknowledged.


‘If you look at the last three games they played, they’ve won almost every game and that proves that they are a very good side. It is not going to be easy.

“There is no way you will be facing an easy side playing the US and for that reason, we are going to prepare very well and make sure that our players play their roles well tactically. We hope to give them a very good game,” the 53-year-old added.


With a semi-final spot the talk of town on the back of their quarter final berth in South Africa 2010, Appiah, unlike the mass, is considering one step at a time.


“I believe that this World Cup, we will take a game as it comes actually. Now we’ve got the US – that’s the most important thing that we are looking at the moment,” he concluded.