Ghana is Africa's Only Hope.... Algeria knocked Out
Venue: Johannesburg, Soccer City
Date: Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Kick-off: 19:30 BST
Germany play Ghana in a do-or-die match. Ghana could become only the second African team to reach the knockout stages in two consecutive World Cups. Nigeria were the first team to achieve that feat in 1998. A draw will be enough for Ghana.
Ghana are the continent’s only hopes left of advancing to the Round of 16, barring a 10-goal onslaught against North Korea from Cote D’Ivoire and a Portugal loss to Brazil. The hopes of an entire continent rest on the black stars beating the Germans. These are the same Germans that have qualified for the knockout stage of every World Cup.
Ghana's John Mensah has returned to training after missing the match with Australia due to calf problem, but his defensive partner Issac Vorsah is out due to a knee injury
Sulley Muntari has been disciplined for his actions at the end of the draw with Australia, but has apologised and remains in the squad.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has said that it is possible he may make one or two changes to his team and will decide with his coaching staff at a meeting on Tuesday night.
Miroslav Klose is banned so Cacau, who scored against Australia, is likely to play up front
The German national team are being hounded back in Germany after rumours surfaced that return flights for Germany have been booked for Thursday evening, should they fail to qualify. Joachim Loew's team have only suffered the indignity of being eliminated in the first-round once before, in 1938. The 1-0 surprise defeat to Serbia, has left them in a precarious position.
Suspended: Klose (Germany)
One game from suspension: Vorsah, Tagoe, Jonathan Mensah, Addy, Annan (Ghana); Cacau, Khedira, Lahm, Oezil, Schweinsteiger (Germany)
MATCH PREVIEW
Ghana have been the standard bearers in an otherwise disappointing World Cup so far for African sides. The Black Stars are on the brink of matching their achievement of 2006 and reaching the last 16, and could stop Germany from progressing from the group stage for the first time ever, which is no mean feat. Germany's performance in their opening game against Australia had everyone saying 'I told you so' as they again showed they save their best for the big stage. However, a strangely subdued display in a slow-paced encounter against Serbia has left them sweating on their progression from Group D. Coach Joachim Loew has promised that they will pick up the tempo when they face the Ghanaians as "fitness is written with a capital 'F' in the Germany squad."Ghana's build up to this game has been overshadowed by a very Sulley boy. Sulley Muntari was reportedly sent home after insulting coach Milovan Rajevac, but was bizarrely then recalled to the squad. Rajevac needs to keep his side's focus as if they reach the last 16, they could be carrying the hopes of a continent on their shoulders.
The intriguing subplot surrounding this game focuses on the Boateng brothers, Ghana's Kevin-Prince and Germany's Jerome. If they both play, they would become the first siblings to play for different countries at the World Cup. If that was not interesting enough, chuck in the fact that Kevin-Prince is public enemy number one in Germany after his tackle on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final ruled the German captain out of the World Cup; then add that the pair aren't on speaking terms following critical comments by Jerome about Kevin-Prince. This public family feud is very much one-to-watch.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head- They have met once before - Germany won 6-1 in a friendly in Bochum in 1993. Ghana
- Ghana were the only African team to win one of their opening two matches in South Africa.
- The Black Stars were the only African team to qualify for the last 16 in 2006. Only Nigeria have previously got out of the group stage at consecutive World Cups, in 1994 and 1998.
- In their six matches at World Cups, Ghana have been awarded four penalties and they have scored three.
Germany
- Germany's 16-match unbeaten streak in group games, stretching back to 1986, came to an end when they lost to Serbia. It was also the first time they had failed to score in a group game since that defeat to Denmark in Mexico.
- The Germans have played five World Cup matches against sides from Africa - their only defeat came against Algeria (2-1) in 1983.
- The last time Germany lost two consecutive games at the World Cup finals was between the 1978 and 1982 World Cups.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee:Carlos Simon (Brazil)Assistants: Altemir Hausmann & and Roberto Braatz (Brazil) Fourth official: Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)
Ghana is Africa's Only Hope.... Algeria knocked Out
Venue: Johannesburg, Soccer City
Date: Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Kick-off: 19:30 BST
Germany play Ghana in a do-or-die match. Ghana could become only the second African team to reach the knockout stages in two consecutive World Cups. Nigeria were the first team to achieve that feat in 1998. A draw will be enough for Ghana.
Ghana are the continent’s only hopes left of advancing to the Round of 16, barring a 10-goal onslaught against North Korea from Cote D’Ivoire and a Portugal loss to Brazil. The hopes of an entire continent rest on the black stars beating the Germans. These are the same Germans that have qualified for the knockout stage of every World Cup.
Ghana's John Mensah has returned to training after missing the match with Australia due to calf problem, but his defensive partner Issac Vorsah is out due to a knee injury
Sulley Muntari has been disciplined for his actions at the end of the draw with Australia, but has apologised and remains in the squad.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has said that it is possible he may make one or two changes to his team and will decide with his coaching staff at a meeting on Tuesday night.
Miroslav Klose is banned so Cacau, who scored against Australia, is likely to play up front
The German national team are being hounded back in Germany after rumours surfaced that return flights for Germany have been booked for Thursday evening, should they fail to qualify. Joachim Loew's team have only suffered the indignity of being eliminated in the first-round once before, in 1938. The 1-0 surprise defeat to Serbia, has left them in a precarious position.
Suspended: Klose (Germany)
One game from suspension: Vorsah, Tagoe, Jonathan Mensah, Addy, Annan (Ghana); Cacau, Khedira, Lahm, Oezil, Schweinsteiger (Germany)
MATCH PREVIEW
Ghana have been the standard bearers in an otherwise disappointing World Cup so far for African sides. The Black Stars are on the brink of matching their achievement of 2006 and reaching the last 16, and could stop Germany from progressing from the group stage for the first time ever, which is no mean feat. Germany's performance in their opening game against Australia had everyone saying 'I told you so' as they again showed they save their best for the big stage. However, a strangely subdued display in a slow-paced encounter against Serbia has left them sweating on their progression from Group D. Coach Joachim Loew has promised that they will pick up the tempo when they face the Ghanaians as "fitness is written with a capital 'F' in the Germany squad."Ghana's build up to this game has been overshadowed by a very Sulley boy. Sulley Muntari was reportedly sent home after insulting coach Milovan Rajevac, but was bizarrely then recalled to the squad. Rajevac needs to keep his side's focus as if they reach the last 16, they could be carrying the hopes of a continent on their shoulders.
The intriguing subplot surrounding this game focuses on the Boateng brothers, Ghana's Kevin-Prince and Germany's Jerome. If they both play, they would become the first siblings to play for different countries at the World Cup. If that was not interesting enough, chuck in the fact that Kevin-Prince is public enemy number one in Germany after his tackle on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final ruled the German captain out of the World Cup; then add that the pair aren't on speaking terms following critical comments by Jerome about Kevin-Prince. This public family feud is very much one-to-watch.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head- They have met once before - Germany won 6-1 in a friendly in Bochum in 1993. Ghana
- Ghana were the only African team to win one of their opening two matches in South Africa.
- The Black Stars were the only African team to qualify for the last 16 in 2006. Only Nigeria have previously got out of the group stage at consecutive World Cups, in 1994 and 1998.
- In their six matches at World Cups, Ghana have been awarded four penalties and they have scored three.
Germany
- Germany's 16-match unbeaten streak in group games, stretching back to 1986, came to an end when they lost to Serbia. It was also the first time they had failed to score in a group game since that defeat to Denmark in Mexico.
- The Germans have played five World Cup matches against sides from Africa - their only defeat came against Algeria (2-1) in 1983.
- The last time Germany lost two consecutive games at the World Cup finals was between the 1978 and 1982 World Cups.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee:Carlos Simon (Brazil)Assistants: Altemir Hausmann & and Roberto Braatz (Brazil) Fourth official: Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)
