We 'Ghana' Win The World Cup
World Champs

Author: From Ghana Web (Via Email Ciriculation)
Forwarded by Phil Tam-Al Alalibo

After all the hype the FIFA World Cup finally kicks-off today in Germany. From today till July 9 billions of football enthusiasts would be treated to the best of football. The experts and most fans believe Brazil is in for their sixth title. A computer says Czechs will win the title for the first time. A catholic priest in Buenos Aires claims to have seen a vision where Argentina lifted the cup. An Irishman has put �5000 on England. A German astrologer, having studied the position of the stars, believes the cup is for the hosts. A Togolese �jujuman� professes Togo will reach the second round. In a BBC documentary, a Rastafarian predicted the trophy is for Trinidad & Tobago, although they've lost all their world cup friendlies.

The strangest of all the prediction was from a jujuman in Lagos. When asked for his predication he said "This is the year for Naija (Nigeria)". On being reminded, Nigeria did not qualify he shouted back "..and so what? "People don't know we are the biggest surprise of this World Cup, when we appear on the field that is when the world will find out for the first time that we are in. I insist, this is our year"  Previous World Cup made prognosticators look like fools. At the risk of further embarrassment, we predict: "We Ghana win the world cup". (read: We Gonna win the world cup)

Ghana�s captain Stephen Appiah said "We're not here to win the World Cup but we're here to make our mark".

He has to be realistic, we don�t.
Back to Reality
Ghana may be lining up at their first-ever World Cup next summer in
Germany, but those who expect them to be blushing debutants might well be in for a big surprise.

For years, Ghana have been regarded as some of the most talented purveyors of the beautiful game on the African continent. With scores of players from Ghana exported to European shores, the nation is a
close third to Nigeria and Cameroon for top European clubs looking to poach the next African starlet.

And though success at senior world level has consistently eluded the
'Black Stars', their record at junior and continental level tells a story of untapped potential waiting to burst forth in Germany. On four separate occasions Ghana have won the African Nations Cup and twice took home the laurels at the prestigious Under- 17 World Championship.

With Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic - appointed just after Christmas and credited largely for an impressive qualifying turnaround - pulling the strings, and a raft of talented players plying their trade in some of the world's high-power leagues, first- timers Ghana will be a team to beware.

After finally qualifying, Ghana will feel unlucky to have been drawn in such a tough group made up of Italy, Czech and USA. They qualified well, losing just once in 10 games and beating favourites South Africa
home and away, but confidence was dented in the recent African Nations when defeat to Zimbabwe ended their hopes at the group stage. There is talent in their ranks but nobody is giving Ghana a dog�s chance to make it out of a very tough group. But then the side plans on being far more than mere soft-touches in Germany.

Ghana, who first tried to qualify for a World Cup all the way back in 1962, will be keen to turn their bags of potential and technique into results at the global party. Among the globetrotting squad members, the searching orchestrations and tireless work rate of the midfield trio of Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah makes them arguably the side's most potent weapon.

Alongside them in the 'Black Stars' are current AS Roma and former Bayern Munich defender Sammy Kuffour and John Mensah of Renne, France who make up a solid defence The attacking machine is not world class quality, but Asamoah Gyan and Matthew Amoah who stood up to be counted over the course of qualifying are the team's most-potent scoring threat. "This is something that generations of Ghanaian footballers have dreamt of an worked towards," exclaimed Holland-based striker Amoah after a 4-0 win over Cape Verde saw them through.

Many pundits point to the irony that, at this point in their history, Ghana are lacking the glittering stars of their recent past. But although they may not have an Abedi Pele or a Tony Yeboah, Appiah and
company will surely be flying the standard with pride and passion.

FIXTURES
Italy v Ghana
Monday 12th June, 2000 BST

Czech Republic v Ghana
Saturday 17th June, 1700 BST

Ghana v USA
Thursday 22nd June, 1500 BST

Robot  Villager

# 1 We 'Ghana' Win The World CupWorld ChampsAuthor: Unknown (Email circulation)F...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 09.06.2006 10:36

Naija for life  Villager

# 2 => The strangest of all the prediction was from a jujuman in Lagos. When asked for his predication he said "This is the year for Naija (Nigeria)". On being reminded, Nigeria did not qualify he shouted back "..and so what? "People don't know we are the biggest surprise of this World Cup, when we appear on the field that is when the world will find out for the first time that we are in. I insist, this is our year" Even when it comes to something as mundane as soccer we are unable to resist our 419 impulses. Posted by Naija for life| 09.06.2006 10:47

planet1899  Villager

# 3 Come on now, we can learn to laugh at this without the accusation of 419 impulses. Must everything be 419? Posted by planet1899| 09.06.2006 10:50

Naija for life  Villager

# 4 Argentina benefited from a tactical error by the Ivorian goalkeeper that made the first goal possible. The goalie should not have remained on the goal line with the scorer attempting a shot from so close a range. Argentina's second goal might have been scored from an offsides position, though it's too close to call. The chance that Ivory Coast missed when the Ivorian headed the ball straight into the goalkeeper's hand with only the goalie to beat was heartbreaking. I know I am working from only highlights, but it appears as if the Ivorians might have been slightly intimidated by the reputation of the Argentinians as well as playing on the big stage for the first time. The goal by Ivory Coast showed a lot of grit and pluck, and I believe if African teams can dispose of the specter of intimidation that rears its head in competitions such as these, they will fare much better. Then again, the goal was scored in the 82nd minute after Argentina had already netted two goals, and had presumably lapsed into complacence at that point. Judging from the highlights, it looked like a well fought and entertaining game. Then again, my impressions of the match must be qualified by the caution that I am working from very limited highlights. To those who saw the entire game, your analysis will be greatly appreciated. Posted by Naija for life| 10.06.2006 18:27

Auspicious  Villager

# 5 LOL! That was a nice one from the Jujuman in Lagos. LOL! Posted by Auspicious| 10.06.2006 19:11

Odinaka  Villager

# 6 I did watch the entire game and must say that I was greatly impressed by the Ivorians. They actually played beyond my expectation and made the Argentines-who incidentally are among the top favourites to lift the trophy-look ordinary. NFL, the goalkeeper of Ivory coast not only made a tactical error that made it eaiser for the Argentines to score their first goal, he was a bundle of disappointment in the entire game. In fact, he helped the Argentines to score what would have been their first goal by "parrying" a shot into his own net; the referee did not see that the ball had crossed the goal line!. He was busy dropping the ball for the opponents, instead of punching or "parrying". Judging from his performance at the African nations cup, it was very clear that he was not a material for the world cup, perhaps there is no better substitute. In general, you've got to believe me: any one who saw the match can easily confirm that the Argentines were made to look very ordinary today, a far cry from pundits' assesments. I hope the Ivorians make it to the second round. The only source of concern now is that the other opponents will be shooting at random, hoping and praying that the goalkeeper continues his "dropping the ball for the opponent" style. Posted by Odinaka| 10.06.2006 19:33

Naija for life  Villager

# 7 Odinaka, Thank you for your reply. I am glad to see that I am not alone in thinking the goalkeeper made a mistake with that first goal. Come to think of it, there were about three Ivorians that could have rushed the scorer. It doesn't look like there was anything any goalkeeper could have done about the second goal though. I hate to sound like I am being unneccesarily critical, but I have always believed in letting your opponents' abilities beat you and not their reputations. I played some competitive football in Nigeria. Nothing like league or even inter collegiate play, but I played in matches where we had to travel to other communities. We competed for trophies that, while not prestigious enough to attract national or statewide attention, were still quite competitive enough to make your heart race. I remember never being intimidated by my opponents' reputations, and some of the guys on the opposing teams had quite formidable antecedents on the soccer field. I always gave all my talents allowed me to give. The players who played better than I did so because they were more talented than I, not because I was awed by their reputations. In fact, I remember playing against a selection of a squad made of players from division 1 of Edo state and giving a very respectable account of myself. And I have to say it was mostly because I was determined not to be overcome by overwhelmingly superior talent. Lack of talent I can understand. Feelings of inadequacy brought about by repution leaves me stumped. One of the most demoralizing effects of what nervousness can do to otherwise supremely gifted players was brought home to me back in 1985 when the green eagles (a name I prefer to super eagles, and which is actually familiar to more people around the world than you might think) played Tunisia in the first leg of their two leg semi final encounter in Lagos. The green eagles composed of incredibly talented players were essentially rendered inert by what appeared to be an acute case of nerves. They ended up winning that match by a piddling lone goal they scored in the dying minutes of the match. I didn't mean to ramble, but it just appears to me that we Africans are a talented bunch who can defeat non Africans if only we exercise a little more faith in our abilities. We only need look at our own national team and all the shakara they do to realize the potential they waste so nonchallantly. Even foreigners remark that African teams would be near unstoppable if they harness their talents more effectively and discard their casual approach towards defence. All in all, I still like Ivory Coast. Losing to Argentina by a one goal margin is nothing to be ashamed of. I had renounced all interest in Togo after they fired Stephen Keshi, but what can I do? World cup is world cup, and they are our West African brothers. Now I hear the German coach has resigned. Much as I would love to see a native Togolese managing the team, I am apprehensive about the adverse effects all this drama must be wrecking on the team this close to the World cup. And we should also not dismiss Ghana. They beat South Korea three goals to one about a week or so ago, and South Korea was a semi finalist at the last world cup. I hope things get better. Posted by Naija for life| 10.06.2006 20:51

Naija for life  Villager

# 8 Ghana lost today two nil. Funny, they never make such horrible defensive blunders when they are playing against Nigeria. Ivory Coast, Ghana and Angola have only one goal so far between them, five goals against and no points. If things don't look up, we will be lucky if FIFA does not reduce Africa's representation. Posted by Naija for life| 13.06.2006 02:42