GROUP D GHANA v GERMANYWITH THE valiant exit of South Africa, it is left to Ghana to carry the hopes of the home continent in this World Cup. Today, the Black Stars face Germany in Soccer City.
While most of the European traditionalists have started this tournament in various states of disorder, Germany’s whopping 4-0 victory made it appear as though it was business as usual. They played their usual organised and unruffled game and delivered a reminder of why the Germans’ World Cup tradition is based on reliability and self-belief.
Losing Michael Ballack, their captain and most illustrious player, just weeks before the tournament did nothing to lessen their methodology and self-confidence. It was the same old Germany.
Then they were beaten by Serbia in their next game and more than ever, the possibility of the old order of European football leaving Africa early loomed. Yesterday, France bowed out in circumstances that will leave an extraordinarily depressing cloud hanging over the national team for some time. Today in Port Elizabeth, England face their own truth time. And this afternoon in Johannesburg, the Germans are in for a testing and nerve wracking hour if they are to advance to the knock-out stages.
“Ghana is possibly Africa’s last chance in terms of teams going through in this competition and they will be very motivated,” acknowledged Germany coach Joachim Loew. “It is not going to be a piece of cake but we are confident we have what it takes to beat Ghana.”
Loew confirmed yesterday he would concentrate on events in Johannesburg and not pass on developments in Nelspruit between Australia and Serbia in the other group match; mathematically, all four teams have a chance of progressing. “We should concentrate on winning our game. Maybe at the end, if it’s all clear.”
Loew is another coach whose reputation hangs on this tournament. In addition to the absence of Ballack, he will have to cope without the attacking experience of Miroslav Klose, who is suspended. After opting to leave Torsten Frings, Germany’s long serving, popular midfielder out of his squad, he has left himself open to the accusation of fielding a team without sufficient experience.
“The impression I have is that they are showing no nervousness or doubt,” he countered. “But Ghana is a physical team and it will be very physically and mentally demanding on our players.”
In keeping with the prevailing theme of this World Cup, unhappy families will also play a subplot in this match. Kevin Prince-Boetang, the combative Ghanaian midfielder has confessed he is presently not on speaking terms with his half-brother Jerome, who is back-up right back for Philip Lahm in the German squad. It was Boetang who ended Ballack’s World Cup participation with his crude tackle in the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth.
Boetang always had the reputation for volatility in Germany and his lunging tackle at Ballack saw him attain a degree of notoriety. Chased for a comment about the incident, Jerome offered the reasonable observation that Kevin-Prince “is a human and make mistakes”. That was sufficient to have him crossed off his half-brother’s Christmas list. “My brother will always be my brother and I wish him the best,” Jerome said. “But right now we don’t have anything to say to one another.”
In addition, Prince-Boetang has been happily stirring tensions between his birthplace and Ghana, his father’s home country. “I don’t care if Germany gets booted out of the tournament. We want to win and move on,” he said after Ghana’s last training session in Soccer City. “If we score a goal, we’ll do a little dance for our German colleagues. I’m glad the German functionaries who always criticised me will have an opportunity to see me play and form an opinion of me at the World Cup.”
Boetang could complete his general assault on German sensitivities by scoring in Johannesburg. Their ascent to the top of Group D has been based on endeavour rather than flair, with both goals earned from the penalty spot. “I don’t think that there is much pressure on us,” said Ghana captain John Mensah, who will return to the side after a hamstring injury. “They will have more pressure on them because they are favourites.”
But no football nation can absorb and control pressure situations as elegantly as the Germans. They are in for a hot afternoon in Johannesburg and the emotional pull of the tournament will lean towards a famous day for the Black Stars. But the Germans should at least be able to negotiate a draw, leaving both teams content and safely through.
AUSTRALIA v SERBIA
AUSTRALIA captain Lucas Neill reacted angrily yesterday to suggestions his team were a bunch of whingers. The Australians have been criticised by some sections of the media back home for complaining about some of the refereeing decisions that have gone against them at the World Cup.
In each of their two matches to date, the Aussies have had a man sent off before half-time. “Everything that’s been written in the last couple of days is the fact we’re all of a sudden a team of whingers. I think it’s everybody else who’s doing the whinging. Australia have never been a team that whinges . . ., said a visibly angered Neill. “Did we whinge when we were down to 10 men (against Ghana)? We took it on the chin, stood up and in the end probably could have won the game. That’s not a team that whinges.”
Australia had Tim Cahill sent off in their opening match against Germany and lost it 4-0. They had Harry Kewell dismissed when they were beating Ghana 1-0 and eventually drew the match 1-1.
Australia need a win today to stand any chance of going through to the last 16.
