Kevin-Prince Boateng has made it into Milovan Rajevac's final 23-man squad for South Africa 2010. The 23 year-old attacker is yet to be capped for Ghana after securing his nationality switch from Germany. Rajevac confirmed his decision today at Ghana's training camp in Paris ahead of the Black Stars' departure to Rotterdam tomorrow for the friendly against Holland on June 1. The Serbian coach cut six players from his squad today, with goalkeeper Stephen Adams, Eric Addo, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Laryea Kingston, Haminu Draman and Bernard Kumordzi all omitted. Ghana will also play Serbia, Australia and Germany in Group D. Ghana squad Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson, Daniel Agyei, Stephen Aholu Defenders: John Paintsil, John Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, Hans Adu Sarpei, Rahim Ayew, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Jonathan Mensah Midfielders: Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Stephen Appiah, Andre Ayew, Derek Boateng Attackers: Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah, Mathew Amoah source: www.ghanafa.org
Its a shame about Kumordzi and Kingston. Would prefer them to have them over i.e. KPB or Amoah. Kingston moreso that he was the best freekick taker and setpieces for Ghana sucked at the ACoN. I really wish Kingston had made the cut... And Ghana could really use someone of Kumordzi's height... I would much prefer to see Adams as the GK sub over Ahorlu or Agyei. He did let in only 10 goals in 30 games this season. With Addo and Kingston this has just become an even younger side...
Jesus Christ, Hans Sarpei still plays. Couldn't believe my eyes when Heynckes subbed him in for Leverkusen, but now he is going to the WC.
Solid squad. I approve and I am happy. I like Haminu but shame there's no space for him this time. He was woeful at the Nation's Cup. As for Eric Addo, the less said the better.
Kingston reacts to being dropped: http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=30251 “I swear to God you are not a good coach. You don’t know anything about football, you stupid man!,” Kingston yelled in the foul-mouthed explosion which last over five minutes. I feel for the guy (don't condone him). Kingston was one of Ghana's best players and will not feature at the world cup. Meanwhile his career is going downhill. I love the guy... shame he burst. Hope he finds a good club soon.
To be honest, this looks like a pretty lackluster squad. Midfield looks good/great on paper, but they might lack in creativity there. Attack is VERY lackluster, no real goalscorer. Amoah can score goals in the Eredivisie, but I doubt he can do that at a World Cup. Ghana looks weaker than Nigeria.
Hmm... Amoah is probably the weakest of the four strikers. If Amoah starts a single game I would be surprised. Asamoah Gyan was the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 in France before his injury. He still finished high in the ranking. He was also a clinical finisher at the African Cup of Nations. I'm not saying the attack is great, but if Gyan isn't a real goalscorer than I have no idea who is. Dominic Adiyiah is unproven at this level, but he was very prolific at the World Youth Cup and the reigning best youth player in the world. Prince Tagoe is hit or miss... he may do well or he may dissapoint...
I never rated Sarpei especially high in the Bundesliga but I've hardly seen him for Ghana. I just get a kick everytime I see his name. Hans is such an old fashioned and common German name. Both of my granddads were/are called Hans.
He nearly lived his whole life in Germany but he was born in Ghana so his name is indeed odd. Unless his parents knew they would go to Germany and therefore choosed this name. Btw. he is married to a German actress and damn she is looking nice.
Ghana - Latvia 0:0 (HALFTIME) Given Latvia isn't a great side (albeit they did admirably at the World Cup qualifiers) they have been overrun totally by Ghana. Ghana have looked very impressive in this match. Dominated midfield and also been very threatening on the counter. Ghana would be 1:0 up, but for a linesman mistake who didn't notice the ball cross the line. The squad is much changed from the Holland match and is much closer to the side at the African Cup of Nations. Players like Inkoom, Ayew, Tagoe and Adjei pushing for a starting XI spot. Minus: The finishing has been TERRIBLE. Ghana should be about 5:0 up by now, but the finishing has been godawful. If Ghana finds their finishing they will be a deadly counterattacking side. --- LINEUP: Daniel Adjei, Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, John Mensah, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Anthony Annan, Prince Tagoe, Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, Asamoah Gyan. We have 3 under20 World Champions in the starting XI with Inkoom and Ayew really pushing for a starting place in Ghana's squad. KPBoateng has looked impressive. Tagoe was OK, but not as good and really should have scored a couple by now. Kwadwo Asamoah is the king of the Ghana midfield. Daniel Adjei looks iffy in the air, but other than that is assured at the back.
After Essien, i'm still worried for Ghana...are there other real leaders and who would you say is the replacement for Essien?
I wasn't able to watch the game but I'm interested in Ghana (might be moving there soon). Has Tagoe really played as a midfielder? To me he seems to be a typical striker. Might be an interesting move by Rajevac. How many players of the team that won the U20 world cup are on this team?
yes hes been playing on the wing... 5 players from the U20 team, there would have been more but a couple missed out due to injury
