The US will take on Ghana in the third consecutive World Cup. In the prior two world cups the US have been eliminated by the African powerhouse. 06 in the third game of group stage and in 10 in the knockout stage. In a horrible twist of fate the US are set to face the Black Stars of Ghana. The history between the two sides is absolutely astounding and unfortunate.
A Look At Ghana:
The Black Stars of Ghana are entering their third straight World Cup. Before this golden generation they were hardly a factor in the African scene. They made it to the quarterfinals in the 2010 World Cup, after defeating the US in extra time. They have 4 African Cup of Nations Titles but have not won the title since 82.
Ghana is a pacy team that seems to have endless amounts of energy. The team has a good amount of veterans and young talent, making them one of the more diverse sides in the World Cup. With players like; Michael Essien, Sully Mutari, and Kevin Prince Boateng, the midfield is the biggest strength for the Black Stars. They will look to control the ball with a few quick passes then beat the US out wide with blazing speed.
Up front, Ghana is captained by the man that makes every US fan cringe, Asamoah Gyan. Gyan is a big target man who has a nose for goal. Decent on the ball skills but his overall speed will make up for any short comings. His ability to show up big against the US has propelled him to mythical status. Although Ghana will expect Gyan to make the big plays happen they do not need to rely on him. Boateng, and Ayew provide enough quality to cause headaches. The Ghana attack is quick and they have an ability to create from the inside. Their strength is quick passes and physical play to create space.
The Ghana team is very confident that they will get a win against the US. The confidence borders arrogance, which could be the biggest downfall. Most of Ghana does not view the US as a threat and believe that they will beat the US. Over the past years, Ghana has been vulnerable on the counter. An over confident team will press highly which will leave themselves open to counter attacks. The US have the speed and strength to get on the counter and create something quickly. The US have shown to have a quick enough transition offense to split a defense and create opportunities on the counter.
2 Key Players for the US
If Jermaine Jones can fulfill his duty of holding back and staying defensive, then the US will cut out a good amount of Ghana attacks. Jones by trade is a traditional center mid who shares defense and offense responsibilities. His nature is to get up into the attack and sometimes gets caught in the offense too much. Jones will be paired up with Bradley so that means that both of them have to take turns going offensive while the other hangs back. Since Bradley is more effective on offense, Jones must hang back more and take a more defensive role. Jones has struggled with this in the past but for this game he really needs to hang back. Jones needs to be the defensive anchor that wins balls and keeps Ghana out of the attacking third. It may not be the most glamorous position but it is one of the most vital ones.
Jozy Altidore needs to make an impact on this game. He had a great showing against Nigeria in the final friendly before heading to Brazil. Jozy needs to drop back into the midfield, get the ball and create chances. He must use his size and strength to take defenders on, beat them and draw fouls. Most importantly, Jozy needs to shoot the ball and test the goalie. It is on him to get goals. Even if Jozy does not score if he can continually put the goalie in positions to make saves then that will increase the changes of the US getting a corner or a shot off the rebound.
Final Prediction:
This game will be a nervy affair, for both sides. The stakes are incredibly high and nobody knows exactly what to expect. The nerves will be high, this is a massive game for both sides and a must win. Expect a slow tentative start to the game as both teams try and feel each other out. Both teams are physical so a few nervy tackles may occur early. A huge key to the game is not to commit any early fouls. Set pieces are always a key factor in big games. Overall I believe the US will find a way to win. 2-1 US.
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