Starting with Ghana 30-man preliminary roster, although a false list has surfaced once, so take this one with a grain of salt until the FA confirms: Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Daniel Agyei (Free State Stars, South Africa), Fatua Dauda (Orlando Pirates, South Africa) and Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars) Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias, Greece), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Baba Rahman (Greuther Furth, Germany), Harrison Afful (Eseperance, Tunisia), David Addy(Vitoria Guimaras), John Boye (Rennes, France), Isaac Vorsah (Red Bul Salzburg), Jerry Akaminko (Erk, Turkey) and Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa) Midfielders Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Mohammed Rabiu (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia), Michael Essien (AC Milan, Italy), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Anthony Annan (Schalke, Germany), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy) Christian Atsu (Vitesse, Holland), Afriyie Acquah (Parma) and Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, England) Attackers Jordan Ayew (Sochaux, France), Abdul Majeed Warris (Valenciennes, France) Asamoah Gyan, (Al Ain, UAE) Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke, Germany), Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Elche).
It seems to suggest Appiah only sees him in a more advanced role. The official list is out: Only surprises: the omission of injury-ridden Isaac Vorsah andAnthony Annan with the inclusion of Jeffrey Schlupp, Afriyie Acquah, Albert Adomah and on-form striker David Accam. Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey, Fatau Dauda, Stephen Adams Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Jefferey Schlupp, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rashid Sumaila, Jerry Akaminko. Midfielders: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Afriyie Acquah, Christian Atsu, Albert Adomah, Andre Ayew, Wakaso Mubarak, David Accam. Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Abdul Majeed Waris, Jordan Ayew. Most players are shoe-ins. The three to be dropped will likely be from: DF: Rashid Sumaila, Samuel Inkoom, Jeffrey Schlupp (the worst performing defender will be dropped) MF: Afriyie Acquah, Mohammed Rabiu (Acquah and Rabiu will fight it out for one slot), Albert Adomah, David Accam (Accam and Adomah will fight it out for one slot). Maybe Wakaso (Ghana's freekick specialist), if Acquah and Rabiu both excel... FW: Maybe Jordan Ayew, but I sincerely doubt it. As it stands I think Sumaila, Acquah and Adomah will be the likely victims. All in all apart from the defensive options I don't think Appiah could have selected better (Agyei ahead of Dauda, maybe try Daniel Amartey or some of the local players as a centerback, for left-back he should give Baba Rahman and Gideon Baah a shot). Defensively Ghana looks iffy with Vorsah out and Dauda still in the picture, but with Opare and Schlupp at fullback position this could be one hell of a counterattacking force. Good news in goal is that Kwarasey was the first name on the goalkeeping list... Does that mean he is now first-choice?
I very interested to see how Jeffrey Schlupp pans out as a left-back... 7,7 rating on Whoscored when playing as a left-back. Will play in the Premier League come next season... Plus his traits make him seem like a very interesting player to watch: DribblingVery Strong Aerial DuelsStrong Holding on to the ballStrong PassingStrong Key passesStrong Blocking the ballStrong TacklingStrong
I get it... Before the WC, everyone has a chance... We're all just looking at the teams on paper.. So we all have to be politically correct and say that every team has a chance. The truth is though, we have much more talent than Ghana and USA combined. Yes, yes there will be plenty of hard working players, players that might surprise... but lets get serious... Portugal is gonna dominate both games... and against Germany... well.. it's going to be harder, but not impossible for us to beat them too. But yeah, this time of the year, everyone is saying how team x has a chance and team y has a chance but let's be fair... Ghana and USA are competition for each other, but not for Germany and Portugal...
The only difference between the Portugal and for example Ghana is that one team has Ronaldo, the other doesn't. Its not being politically correct, its being realistic. Ghana also has the better youth players. While Portugal has an old team - one of the oldest at the tournament. And Ghana proved they are competition for Germany in 2010. This time around Ghana is even stronger.
Here's another difference : CR7 is worth more than any footballer from Ghana, youth, senior, whatever. Also Ghana might be competition for Germany, but they also tied Australia. There's nothing convincing about Ghana and we will smash them very hard. I say 2-0 with 70% ball possession for Portugal
Yeah... that's exactly how it went vs Cote d'Ivoire 4 years back But their majestic draws against the titans of Northern Ireland and Israel prove they are 'convicing'. Fact is that there is nothing convincing about Portugal. At least Ghana qualified with style.
Lol... that was the opening game of the group of death my friend, playing against a team full of studs. Good pick for comparison. I'm surprised you even mention them since they seem to ruin Ghana pretty regularly in Africa. 70% possession minimum, 2-0. Guaranteed. But I'll play the game and be politically correct. "Ghana are a great team with great players and they really have a chance to get out the group" LOL
Honnestly there's nothing convincing about Portugal except for CR7. Portugal looked toothless against Sweden except for CR7. Basically any team that shots down CR7 will beat Portugal easily imo
Actually they rarely meet each other lately... They've played twice in the last 10 years - both times in the African Cup of Nations: In 2008 Ghana convincingly beat Cote d'Ivoire 4:2 in a third match playoff. In 2010 Cote d'Ivoire convicingly beat an injury ridden Ghana 3:1 (but Ghana still managed to finish 2nd, while Cote d'Ivoire dropped out in the 1/4 final). H2H Ghana is better than Cote d'Ivoire. FAIL POST.
Can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen Ghana and IC have more games H2H, but I don't have the time (nor do I care about minnows) to research such an insignificant statistic.
A lista de 30: Guarda-redes - Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Sevilha), Eduardo (SC Braga) e Rui Patrício (Sporting) Defesas - André Almeida (Benfica), Antunes (Málaga), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), João Pereira (Valência), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valência) e Rolando (Inter) Médios - André Gomes (Benfica), João Mário (Vitória FC), João Moutinho (Mónaco), Miguel Veloso (D. Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Rúben Amorim (Benfica) e William Carvalho (Sporting) Avançados - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (SC Braga), Hélder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Ivan Cavaleiro (Benfica), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (SC Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Varela (FC Porto) e Vieirinha (Wolfsburgo)
FINAL 23 PORTUGAL Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting) Defenders: André Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), João Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia) Midfielders: João Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (D. Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Rúben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting) Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Braga), Hélder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg) PS: Notable absent (better in form) players that people are criticizing the nt coach for: Quaresma (FC Porto), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Cédric (Sporting), Anthony Lopes (Lyon) and Antunes (Malaga). Not to mention that he's bringing 3 strikers to the WC...
Donovan out of world cup! Shocking! Thoughts? I'm just laughing...but it could actually be a good move. You know that the teams were spending time thinking on how to stop Donovan. They wasted a bunch of time haha
2014 FIFA WORLD CUP – U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC) MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) Well I don't really know what to think... We're just fan... Yeah I'm surprised and disappointed that Donovan is out of WC. I don't really know the capacities of Julian Green & DeAndre Yedlin. They're really young. They might be the new good players of the US Soccer, but it's a big risk IMO. I remember a player I really dislike, he was really bad, this striker "Robbie Findley", he never scored with the US soccer team, he wasted a lot of good opportunities, I hope we won't see a player acted like Findley.
Reposting: "Lars Bender out for Germany. Germany's mid-field is a non-fit Schweini, a non-fit Khedira and ultra slow Kroos." I would also add a disinterested Mesut Oezil.