Feature: Ghana must temper 2014 World Cup expectations

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• Kenneth Osei-Afriyie 11 years ago

  I am glad that someone has pointed out the need to be realistic and water down expectations of the Black Stars. This over-hyped expectations have come about because of our performances in the last 2 editions of the WC. But we ...
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  I am glad that someone has pointed out the need to be realistic and water down expectations of the Black Stars. This over-hyped expectations have come about because of our performances in the last 2 editions of the WC. But we must be careful not to over-hype our expectations of the Black Stars. This will ensure they don't go into the tournament under pressure. Having said that we must also have a belief in ourselves that we can beat anybody with the right approach. This is where I differ from you Michael.I believe with the right motivation, good preparations; determination and tactical approach we have the ability to go beyond the Quarter-final by the Grace of the Almighty.

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• Kwesi 11 years ago

  Kenneth, you're right. We shouldn't go in thinking we can't win the trophy. Michael Oti Adjei is also right. We shouldn't rate our chances too much.
  
  But it is better to go into the tournament believing we can win it than t ...
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  Kenneth, you're right. We shouldn't go in thinking we can't win the trophy. Michael Oti Adjei is also right. We shouldn't rate our chances too much.
  
  But it is better to go into the tournament believing we can win it than to go with the belief that we will be knocked out in the first round. I don't think any Ghanaian, in his heart of hearts, thinks we can win Cup in Brazil. Any Ghanaian who thinks so doesn't know a thing about the game. So those saying we can win it are just saying it to feel fine.
  
  My own gut feelings: we were extremely lucky in our first two appearances in the World Cup. In each, we didn't really do well in the group matches and only scrapped through. Even in South Africa, our quarter final place had a large dose of luck (plus, of course, some tactical play) in it. Then luck abandoned us in the quarter final match and prevented us from reaching the semis.
  
  This time, I don't think luck will be on our side again. We are capable of beating any and all the teams in our group game (only because the ball is round) but I don't think we'll be lucky enough to do that.
  
  That's what I know in my heart but I am not saying it aloud. What I am saying aloud is: We are going to beat Portugal, draw with USA, lose to Germany and scrape through into the second round... After all, I must be hopeful and hope has nothing to do with ability...

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• anokwale 11 years ago

  The real issue is that once you get out of the group, anything can happen. On paper, Ghana cannot win this tournament. However, the reason people are hopeful is that if Ghana sneaks through, which can happen as long as they ...
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  The real issue is that once you get out of the group, anything can happen. On paper, Ghana cannot win this tournament. However, the reason people are hopeful is that if Ghana sneaks through, which can happen as long as they beat the USA; anything can happen in the match ups during the elimination stage. What if Ghana is second in group G and South Korea wins group H. Then they beat South Korea and somehow, Ghana meets a Honduras, Ecuador, France or Switzerland in the quarterfinals. This is a possible scenario if you look at the brackets. If they sneak out of the group they could be in a situation where the first real test could be at the semifinal stage. In otherwords, this is just about getting out of the group. After that, match ups can be in Ghana's favor. In fact, in 2010, the matchups were in Ghana's favor. If Gyan would have made that penalty...

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• POW@Ghana 4 last 4, Brazil 2014 11 years ago

  You all should hold your peace, I'll tell you what'll be our chances to win the cup after Ghana has qualified for the last 4 in Brazil.

  You all should hold your peace, I'll tell you what'll be our chances to win the cup after Ghana has qualified for the last 4 in Brazil.

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• Mr.N 11 years ago

  I Mr.N from my holy village have the Ga-man's attitude going into this world cup. When a Ga-man is down and you are hold him in killer neck position he would still tell you that when he get up he would be beat.
  
  In 1901 all ...
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  I Mr.N from my holy village have the Ga-man's attitude going into this world cup. When a Ga-man is down and you are hold him in killer neck position he would still tell you that when he get up he would be beat.
  
  In 1901 all men of Prof S'Berta people thought British empire was too big to stand up to, it took a woman to let the men find their manhood.
  
  Eliab David’s oldest brother told him to shut and if David had done so he would not have made history.
  
  I have three letters Phd which stand for
  
  P- Poor
  H- Hungry
  D- Determination
  
  We know we are poor therefore we are hungry and determine to prove ourselves. You have to feel it, believe and go for it. When I was kid I was told that a child who would buy a car one day start asking for the price of cars.

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• Amada 11 years ago

  WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED AFTER THE REVEREND JESSIE JACKSON'S 2 PER CENT ELECTION SCORE MANY YEARS BACK, THAT BLACK OBAMA COULD WIN THE US ELECTIONS? LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-MOTIVATION IS WORSE THAN OVER-CONFIDENCE. AFTER A ...
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  WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED AFTER THE REVEREND JESSIE JACKSON'S 2 PER CENT ELECTION SCORE MANY YEARS BACK, THAT BLACK OBAMA COULD WIN THE US ELECTIONS? LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-MOTIVATION IS WORSE THAN OVER-CONFIDENCE. AFTER ALL IS GHANA AND THE BLACK STARS OVER IF WE DON'T WIN THE 2014 WORLD CUP? WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DREAM AND GIVE WINGS TO OUR DREAM TO ENABLE US FLY. YES, GHANA CAN WIN THE WORLD CUP. I SAID, GHANA CAN, BECAUSE ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS CAN!

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• sam-GGBL 11 years ago

  awesome! self belief is better than nothing!Reality is shit until it happens...whiles its yet to happen believ!

  awesome! self belief is better than nothing!Reality is shit until it happens...whiles its yet to happen believ!

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• owusu -holland 11 years ago

  Some part of your article seems interesting but the last paragraph may reflect your mentality as negative. During the first world war,some British soldiers were shot dead by their commanders for exhibiting cowardice.They cow ...
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  Some part of your article seems interesting but the last paragraph may reflect your mentality as negative. During the first world war,some British soldiers were shot dead by their commanders for exhibiting cowardice.They coward and refused to move forward on hearing the sound of the big guns miles away and I think your mentality is akin to their situations so becareful you don't suffer the same 'fate'.

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• OJAY 11 years ago

  If you are not intelligent, it will be better off not writing anything at all, than to disturb us with your stupidity.EMPTY BARREL.

  If you are not intelligent, it will be better off not writing anything at all, than to disturb us with your stupidity.EMPTY BARREL.

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• Me4U 11 years ago

  The only non-intelligence and stupidity on this thread is coming from you.

  The only non-intelligence and stupidity on this thread is coming from you.

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• BRO DAN- TRC 11 years ago

  BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA; -MAY ALL NATIONAL SOCCER TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR -THE GLORIOUS GATHERING: BRAZIL 2014; -'NUMBER THE DAYS'- TO THE GLORIOUS GATHERIN ...
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  BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA; -MAY ALL NATIONAL SOCCER TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR -THE GLORIOUS GATHERING: BRAZIL 2014; -'NUMBER THE DAYS'- TO THE GLORIOUS GATHERING AND -"APPLY THEIR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM". FOR JUST AS THE FIFA 2014 UNDER 17 WOMEN'S WORLDCUP IS HERE, SO IS -BRAZIL 2014- HERE TO ALL THE NATIONAL TEAMS WITH A FORESIGHT. AND THEY DO NOTHING SHORT OF WHAT IS WRITTEN REGARDING ALL THINGS; THUS, -"OCCUPY TILL I COME". SELAH. "IT IS FINISHED". THEREFORE, -"OCCUPY TILL I COME". SELAH.
  TOGETHER WE CAN! WITH GOD, WE CAN!! GOD BLESS AFRICA TO "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE" AND -UNITE- FOR NIGERIA, CAMEROON, GHANA, IVORY COAST AND ALGERIA MUST -"GO FOR THE GOLD" AS THE HEART OF HUMANITY LONG TO SEE. GOD BLESS ALL THE QUALIFIED TEAMS TO BRAZIL 2014 TO -"WATCH" AND -"PLAY SKILFULLY" THAT EXCEEDING GREAT JOY BE THE PORTION OF HUMANITY. GOD BLESS THE FIFA 2014 WOMENS UNDER 17 WORLDCUP AND THE GLORIOUS GATHERING; BRAZIL 2014. GOD BLESS THE DIGNIFIED PEOPLE AND THE GREAT NATIONS OF COSTA RICA AND BRAZIL. AND, GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.
  THE LORD BLESS THEE, AND KEEP THEE; THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE; AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE; THELORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UNTO THEE, AND GIVE THEE PEACE.
  NOTE
  REGARDS TO -GHANAWEB- FOR THE SPACE. AND TO -MIGHTY GOD RADIO- FOR THE LORD'S SONGS.

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• BARIMA TOKIAFRE 11 years ago

  Thanks for your lovely article. Try to write this down somewhere
  GHANA WILL BEAT USA. GHANA WILL SPLIT POINTS WITH GERMANY AND THEN BEAT PORTUGAL THIS WILL PUT GHANA ON TOP OF THE GROUP
  GERMANY SPLITTING POINTS AGAIN WITH ...
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  Thanks for your lovely article. Try to write this down somewhere
  GHANA WILL BEAT USA. GHANA WILL SPLIT POINTS WITH GERMANY AND THEN BEAT PORTUGAL THIS WILL PUT GHANA ON TOP OF THE GROUP
  GERMANY SPLITTING POINTS AGAIN WITH PORTUGAL AND BEATING USA WILL COME SECOND
  PORTUGAL SPLITTING POINTS WITH GERMANY, SHEDDING POINTS TO GHANA AND RIDDING OVER USA WILL COME THIRD AND FLY HOME. POOR USA WITH ZERO POINTS AND BEING LAST IN THE GROUP WILL MARCH HOME

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