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Dujkovic confident of success

Sun, 4 Jun 2006 Source: --

Black Stars coach Ratomir Dujkovic says Ghana?s group opponents, Italy would struggle to beat his team in their group opener on June 12 in Hannover.

The Black Stars completed their build up to the World Cup with a convincing 3-1 victory over South Korea and thus stay unbeaten in their last three games.

Dujkovic says he would be giving his team a lot of rest ahead of game against Italy.

The Black Stars making their debut at the competition play the Azzurrini?s - three-time winners, in their first group game.

Ahead of the game Ratomir Dujkovic says he would be giving his team a lot of rest but is still uncertain about his line up.

Dujkovic in a post match interview after the South Korean game stated that his team would now be looking at their opponents and also duel on tactics.

But with eight days to the first game, Dujkovic has sounded a word of caution to his opposite number, Marcello Lippi, stressing that the Azzurrini?s would find it difficult beating the Black Stars.

?Maybe, I have 95 percent of my team for the game against Italy.

?Anybody can have their opinion about Ghana. Ghanaians are strong, good skill and a good team.

?I can?t tell who would be in our first line up against Italy but I tell you, we are trying to give the chance to everybody. We must be happy about our team?

?Italy are favourites in this group, they are a tough side but they have to suffer to beat us,? Dujkovic said.

Ghana?s run up to the World Cup started with a 1-1 draw with Turkey and a 4-1 thrashing of Jamaica.

The Black Stars completed their build up a 3-1 victory over South Korea on Sunday at the Easter Road stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland and thus stay unbeaten in their last three games.

The win by Ghana however ends South Korea?s six-game unbeaten run.

Dujkovic made four changes to the squad that thumped Jamaica?s Reggae Boyz in Leicester.

The Ghana coach started goalkeeper Richard Kingston ahead of Sammy Adjei in post and replaced the two full backs, Dan Quaye and Habib Mohammed with John Paintsil and Addoquaye Pappoe.

Dujkovic also rested AS Roma defender, Sammy Osei Kuffour and played Asante Kotoko?s Shilla Illiasu in his place.

On the exclusion of Sammy Osei Kuffour, Dujkovic explained in a post match interview that it was a decision to give every member of the squad a try.

?Sammy Osei Kuffour is a good player but he had to see everyone, We decided to try Shilla and see what he is made of.?

Dujkovic also stated that the South Koreans did not give Ghana the opposition he expected from the 2002 World Cup semi-finalist.

?This moment, everybody is confident in our group and we know we would have a good World Cup.

?Korea is a good team but this time they didn?t push like they used to do but it was a good game.?

Source: --