Nervous Germnay Exit World Cup

In their semifinals game, Spain swept aside Germany to book a place to their first Word Cup finals appearance. It was a dominating display from La Furia Roja, who once again got the best of their European opponents. Th game ended in very much the same way it had two years ago, at the European Championships, as Spain won the game thanks to a solitary goal from the unlikely Carles Puyol.

The biggest disappointment for the Germans will have to be their tentative approach to the game. The Germans seemed nervous. They also looked to have afforded too much respect to their opponents. In effect they failed to play with the same energy and abandon as they had in previous games. In fact this young German side seemed to have struggled to cope with the pressure of the situation. tactically speaking, Spain always had the edge over Germany. The Spanish midfield was always going to be too much for the Schweinsteiger and Khedira duo, and this is how it played out. Xavi had his best performance of the tournament, finding spaces in between the lines as Pedro, who had come in for the misfiring Torres, had a very positive impact on the game and gave a torrid time to Jerome Boateng. As a matter of fact, the Hamburg defender was the first to be substituted in the second half. David Villa was a little isolated and struggled to find spaces behind the ever vigilant Friedrich, but it was the constant pressure of the Spain midfield which did all the damage. In fact Germany created very little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities as they were pinned back for large spells and had to repel attack after attack throughout the game. The goal itself came late and from an unlikely corner-kick. Xavi delivered the cross and Puyol charged into the penalty box unmarked as he rose above everyone and pounced on the ball to deliver in a fearsome header past Neuer. A somewhat un-Spanish goal but one which proved decisive nonetheless.

All the questions will be how would the game have gone had the harshly suspended Thomas Muller played a part in this contest? I don't believe it would actually have made too much of a difference. The passing channels from Schweinsteiger to the front men were well cut out by Xabi Alonso and Busquets. The German midfielder struggled for space and time and failed to make any positive plays, usually forced to pass backwards. Even the marauding Lahm struggled, as he was pinned back in his own half and rarely made any runs upfield. As for Ozil, his inexperience seemed to have gotten the best of him as nerves affected his performance. His touch was poor and his passing errant, he did not seem to be on the same page as most of his teammates. All in all, Germany were soundly beaten by Spain but they will certainly look back at this game with some regrets for having failed to force the issue more and for affording too much respect to the Spanish.

The Germans ultimately fell prey to their own tactical setup. Germany is a team that has operated on the counter-attack throughout this tournament. Unfortunately, against Spain, this strategy failed as the the Spanish monopolized possession of the ball and rarely gave it away. The problem was that the Germans also lacked a plan B. It was not through lack of invention however that this was the case, but more so due to lack of resources. This was the glaring weakness in this German side as it simply lacks the personnel to change the way it plays. The loss of Ballack has in fact affected the tactical setup, as well as had the absences of Thomas Hitzlsperger and Kevin Kuranyi in the squad. Both these players could have allowed for a change of shape and focus in the squad's tactics. Of course in the end, it was more an issue of lacking experience than tactics that saw the Germans fall. In that regard the loss of Ballack and his non-replacement by the likes of Torsten Frings have been key factors in Germany's somewhat tame exit.

Dutch Delight as the Oranje Reach Finals

Holland reached their third World Cup final by beating Uruguay. The Oranje will certainly be hoping for a different script as they look to win their first World Cup in the country's history. This is a Holland team that has somewhat flown under the radar throughout this tournament however, not bringing too much attention towards itself as some other previous squads may have had.

Indeed coach Bert van Marwijk put together a very blue-collar squad for this World Cup. In effect, looking through the 23-man squad, the squad does not boast of the same star power as some other teams in previous tournaments. But it seems to have all gone right for Marwijk as the Oranje find themselves in this summer's finals. Actually the past underachievement of many Dutch squads before has been due to the number of high-profile players and big egoes in the dressing room. It was never an issue of lack of quality, but indeed of too much quality for the Dutch. The likes of Edgar Davids, Seedorf, Van Bommel, and Ruud van Nistelrooy have been the big personalities of past squads as well as the source of some dressing room unrest.

Marwijk's squad is different however. It contains many more workers than it does flair player. Still he included important impact players like Sneijder, Robben and van Persie. Like we have seen it with many teams in this tournament, this Dutch squad plays with two holding midfielders. This is a change from the expansive and free-flowing Totaalvoetbal (Total Football) the Oranje is known for, which is sacrificed for tactical discipline and defensive stability. To this effect Van Bommel and De Jong have been two of the most important players for Holland. After all Holland qualified from the group stages having conceded only a single goal.

Holland were the first team to qualify out of the group stages. They were neither flashy nor particularly dominant in their opening games. They seemed to play reserved and did not come up with particularly challenging opposition. Of course this all changed when the quarterfinal draw was made against Brazil. The Dutch beat their South American foes and largely dominated play in the second half. This was a significant moment as it begged the question if Holland would be able to kick into the next gear should they have come up against more testing opposition. Marwijk's men passed this test with flying colors.

As one might have expected, despite this new look Dutch squad, the likes of Sneijder and Robben are still the difference makers of this squad. Sneijder is the orchestrator and main danger-man. The play goes through him as he pulls all the strings from midfield and sets up the attack. Robben is very much the gamebreaker and Marwijk will consider himself a genius for having gambled on him. After all, Robben had injured himself mere days before Holland's opener. Marwijk decided to keep the Bayern Munchen winger however, and this decision has paid great dividends.

Marwijk's men have quietly snuck into the World Cup finals. Of course their first challenge came in the quarterfinals, when they faced Brazil. But the real test is after the quarterfinals and dealing with the added spotlight and pressure of expectations. After all, it would have been difficult to remain under the radar after defeating the five-time World Cup champions. But the Dutch dealt with the pressure and delivered an impressive performance to beat Uruguay in the semifinals. They have now reached the final frontier and will look to move one step better and lift the coveted World Cup trophy.

History Makers Spain Edge Past Paraguay

Spain have made it to their first World Cup semifinals in the country's history. A shocking statistic really, especially considering the talent that the Iberian nation has produced over the decades. In effect it has always come to as a surprise when we look back at Spain's inability to progress far in World Cup tournaments, and indeed to have never won a World Cup at all. Holland are always said to be the best nation to have never won the World Cup, especially after the near-misses of 1974 and 1978, but Spain must surely be put in that category as well.

It was not a particularly convincing performance which saw Spain overcome the stubborn Paraguay defense. In effect they did not sweep their South American opponents as many may have had predicted it. Of course Spain dominated most of the play and possession however, as Paraguay was content to just sit deep and absorb pressure, but they struggled to create too many clear-cut chances. Outstandingly, it was Paraguay who came close to breaking the deadlock in the final minutes of the first half, had Nelson Valdez's back-post cross been converted. Valdez was again the dangerous moments later as he latched on to a long cross, controlled, and smashed in a shot past Casillas. It was the linesman who would come to Spain's rescue however as the Paraguay striker was flagged offside. Spain came back in the first half and quickly made the change as the misfiring Torres was substituted by Fabregas. The real drama came at the hour mark as Paraguay was awarded a penalty when Pique pulled down Oscar Cardozo in the box after an ensuing corner-kick. Cardozo stepped up to take the penalty and fired low and hard. Casillas would pull Spain out of the fire this time around, as the Real Madrid stopper dove to his right to save and smother the shot. And mere seconds later it was David Villa who was taken down in the box by the then flawless Alcaraz. Xabi Alonso took responsibility and smashed in the penalty. The play was called back for encroaching however and Alonso was made to re-take the penalty. Villar came up with the save this time and the ensuing scramble gave way to a corner-kick, as Paraguay rushed to the ball to clear it. There was one piece of controversy as Fabregas seemed to have been pulled down by Villar after he had latched onto the rebound. The call was not given however and play resumed.

The Breakthrough would come at the 83rd minute of a very tense game. It was no surprise that David Villa would save Spain yet again as his solitary strike turned out to be the decisive one. It is unquestionable that David Villa has been the most important player for Spain. In fact, in terms of the national team, it has always been the case. Torres, for the most part, fails to come up with the goods at this stage. Doubtlessly Xavi is the engine which makes the whole operation run smoothly, but David Villa is incontestably the X factor of this team. This was his fifth goal of the tournament, and all his strikes have thus far proven decisive. Certainly Vincente Del Bosque will be hoping for more of the same from the Spain hitman.

Spain are thus poised to become heroes, should they overcome the impressive German unit in their semifinals clash. It will be a bit of a case of unknown territory for La Furia Roja, but they unquestionably possess all the weapons to reach the final of the World Cup. As we look at the squad on paper, player for player, it is self-evident that the Spanish are superior to the Germans. As such they come into this clash with the added burden of being the favorites to advance. Indeed this is a tag that the Spanish have tried very hard to rid themselves of, especially after their recent triumph at the European Championship. Tactically speaking, this Spanish team may hold much of the same personnel which featured at EURO '08, but it plays differently. Unlike the EURO '08 squad, Vincente Del Bosque plays with two holding midfielders: Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets. As a result the play does not go through Xavi as much since he does not play as centrally anymore. Consequently he does not orchestrate from the midfield as much and plays in a much more advanced position. This team, although it plays the same possession style of football, is much more forceful and direct. The only problem with this is that it plays narrow and usually tries to break through the middle. This lack of width has seen them struggle a lot during some of their games. Conversely, the additional holding midfielders offers extra cover to the back-line and allows Sergio Ramos and Capdevilla to bomb forward and join in on the attack.

It will surely be a gripping contest between these two teams. The impressive Spanish midfield will most likely get the best of the German midfield. Considering the pairing of Khedira and Schweinsteiger, Spain should be able to over-flood them and dominate midfield. however Germany is a team that has proven to operate very effectively on the counter. With the Marauding runs of Ramos and Capdevilla on the right and left flanks respectively, Spain could play right into the Germans' hands. The absence of the impressive Thomas Muller on the right hand side will be crucial for the Germans however. As such we might see the inclusion of either Cacau, Marin, or Trochowski. Trochowski, a very potent attacker and skillful player he might be, is unlikely to get the nod from Low due to his lack of pace. Marin possesses both the pace and dribbling ability but operates mostly on the left-hand side. By process of elimination, we are left with Cacau whose natural position is as a right-sided forward. His defensive ability is the only question mark however.

It will definitely be a game to be decided by the smallest of margins. Not necessarily referring to the score line but more so in terms of the defining moments of the games. The individual battles on offer are all tantalizing propositions as well: Xavi against Schweinsteiger, Villa against Lahm, Sergio Ramos against Podolski, Puyol against Klose. The winners of these key battles will most likely see their side going through to the finals.

Africa's Hopes Dashed As Ghana Bow Out

It was a truly emotional moment in South Africa as the Uruguay substitute striker Abreu cooly chipped in the winning penalty to seal his country's progress to the semifinals. It was indeed not the first time that the South Americans had torn all of Africa's hopes asunder. Their first victim was South Africa, and now it was Ghana's turn to fall.

It however seemed like Gyan would have made history as he stepped up to take the spot kick in the dying moments of extra time. It was the last kick of the game and Gyan could have entered in the annals of World Cup history as the one to have sent the first African team to the semifinals of a World Cup. The Rennes striker ultimately contrived to miss as he saw his shot crash against the crossbar. The ensuing penalty shootout did not prove any better for Ghana as captain John Mensah and substitute Adiyiah were both denied by Muslera. The game itself was a gripping contest. Ghana struggled in the opening minutes but quickly took control of the game as Muntari grabbed the opener. The Internazionale midfielder fired from a long, long way out. Muslera hopelessly scrambled across his line but could do nothing to reach Muntari's ferocious shot. It would all come undone in the second half however as Uruguay gained the ascendancy and Forlan fired in a vicious free-kick to equalize. The game proceeded with both teams creating lots of chances but ultimately failing to find the breakthrough. Ghana had the upper hand and pushed hard for the winner. After a goal line scramble in the dying minutes of extra time, which saw Adiyiah's header illegally blocked from going in by Luis Suarez's handball. The Ajax hitman was succinctly given his marching orders as Gyan lined up the penalty. The rest, as we say, is ancient history.

Ghana's great adventure thus ended at the quarterfinal stage. It is well known that football matches, especially in the World Cup, are decided on the smallest of margins. Ghana's, tragically, is a tale of inches. Indeed, a couple or so lower and Gyan would have smashed in the winning goal to secure his country's passage to the next stage. Bu the Black Stars should not despair. They fought bravely and were one of the sensations of the competition. The Black Stars put in magnificent performances throughout this tournament. What was most admirable about this Ghana side was the joy with which they played the game. Always with a smile on their faces, they played loose and without the weight of pressure, enjoying the moment and the occasion. It would be too easy to say that everyone loves a cinderella story. But such a statement would not do justice to the fantastic performances of this Ghana team, which represented so much more. The Black Stars very literally carried the hopes of the entire continent on their shoulders. Never did it seem too heavy a burden for them however, as they played valiantly and stood bravely before all opposition.

It was a heart-wrenching moment for Ghana, for Africa, and especially for Gyan. The striker could do nothing to hold back the tears after the final whistle was blown. After having been the hero for his country, being so decisive in every game before, he had now failed to send Ghana through. But Gyan fearlessly stepped up, mere moments later from his miss, to take the first penalty of the shootout. He struck it flawlessly, guiding the ball into the top-corner and out of Muslera's reach. Despite the disappointment, there are many positives to be taken. The biggest of which is that this is a very young squad. In fact Ghana were the youngest squad of the World Cup, with an average age of about 23 years old. It is a team full of talent and promise, and as such they should only progress further from here on out. All its squad members show much potential indeed. Kevin Prince Boateng was the standout player of the team for Ghana, while other such as Andre Ayew and of course Asamoah Gyan also shone for the Black Stars. The one fear would however be if this team were to disappear into anonymity as the talented Senegal side of 2002 had contrived to do. These young Black Stars should be able to avoid this fate however, and will surely push on to even more success. As for myself, I will anxiously be awaiting for Ghana 2014.

Maradona's Midas Touch

Argentina swept aside Mexico without a moment's second though in their round of 16 clash against El Tri. Never mind the offside goal Tevez scored, it was an overwhelming and dominating performance from Maradona's men. But it was not the Argentine display that was the highlight of the encounter but their coach himself.

Maradona has come under much criticism - from myself as well in fairness - throughout his tenure as Argentina coach. The Albiceleste idol has strung up 4 wins on the bounce in which his men have scored 10 goals thus far in the tournament. Maradona's greatest achievement thus far is that he has managed to unite the squad. It is indeed no small feat, especially considering all the high profile players on the team. The Argentina squad seems to be playing without pressure and with a lot of joy. All this is down to the coach and Maradona deserves all the plaudits for it. Maradona seems to have put his arm around each players' shoulders and made them all feel like giants. Nothing seems to be able to scare this team and they play liberated and free of pressure against all their opponents. Even Messi, who seems to be struggling for goals, still performs at a very high level. Indeed it is very different from the likes of Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo who seemed to be struggling for form and failed to perform for their respective countries. In contrast Maradona has managed to keep Messi confident and performing for Argentina, and such man-management skills are the mark of a great manager.

Yes Maradona may not be known as an astute tactician, but he certainly hasn't made any blunders as of yet. I myself heavily criticized Maradona for his squad selection and tactics. The omission of Zanetti and Cambiasso were the main issues of Maradona's World Cup squad. It had also seemed that Maradona did not know his formation or best starting 11 throughout the qualifying campaign. This issue has been settled however and the results are incontestable. Tevez, Higuain, and Messi have linked up effectively. The issue of width in the team has been solved with the inclusions of either [or both] Maxi Rodriguez and Di Maria, and Mascherano seems to do fine by himself in protecting the back-four. This is possible thanks to the high pressing defense Maradona's team applies where Tevez. Higuain, and Messi are the first line of defense. That very same high press was responsible for Osorio's mistake in Argentina's second goal when Higuain pounced on his errant pass and rounded the goalkeeper before firing into an empty net. As a matter of fact this tactical setup is probably the reason why the less mobile Diego Milito has thus far been relegated to the bench.

The most crucial point is that Maradona has kept his squad happy. He has been able to use most of his squad during the three qualification games, something that very few teams have managed. As such all but a few players on the Argentina squad have had an outing in this summer's tournament. This has helped a lot in keeping the squad's overall morale high. Even though Maradona has very little coaching experience, being such a great player, he knows what it is like to be at a World Cup. His past experience is important indeed as he can imparts this onto his player and knows how to manage certain situations better than other coaches. Also the team takes advantage of his charismatic persona which attracts all attention towards him and away from his players. As such the Argentine players can fully focus on their football without the added pressure that the world press and various football audiences may bring. In addition, Maradona seems to have created a sort of siege mentality of "us against them" after most of the Argentine press called for his head during the qualification campaign.

Argentina always possessed the talent and ability to go far in the tournament and indeed to win it all. The question was always: will Maradona be able to bring this group together? It would seem as though Maradona has silenced his critics - me included - and drawn out his squad's immense potential. We questioned his selection, his choices, his tactics and his very appointment as Argentina boss, but Maradona has answered all. Everything is going well for Argentina as of now of course. Consequently Maradona can do no wrong as far as observers are concerned. It will take some time to see how the situation develops but for now, Maradona's Argentina has been in great form. Indeed Maradona seems to have had the golden touch when no one expected it.

Premiere League Stars Humbled as England Crash Out

England crashed out of the World Cup in their round of 16 encounter against Germany. While the English will be crying out for injustice at Lampard's goal that was denied by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant Mauricio Espinosa, the rest of most observers will recognize the fact that Germany largely outplayed Capello's men.

It was yet another uninspiring England performance to match what has been an altogether uninspiring World Cup campaign. The Three Lions were unimpressive during group play, and once again looked ponderous and uninterested. It took the second German goal to spark England into life as Upson got at the end of Gerrard's cross to nod in England's first. Momentum was firmly in England's hands as they put the German defense under all kinds of pressure in the final moments of the first half. The problem was that England failed to come out in the second half with the same energy and intent. Thus Germany was able to settle back into the game as they hit the English on two quick counters to put the game beyond reach and decide the contest. Would England have gone on to win the match had Lampard's goal stood? The answer is we don't know. But the painful moral of this story is that it is be far too naive to think that the World Cup could be played on if's and but's.

The biggest question will be how did England contrive to exit so early from the World Cup? Indeed how is it that such a star-studded lineup failed to perform in South Africa? The reasons are many and both simple yet complicated. England showed that they were truly lacking, only managing a draw against the US, being out-performed by Algeria, and unconvincingly shading past Slovenia. It was only logical that England would lose out to the superior unit that was the German team when the round of 16 came rolling in. And so we reach the crux of the issue. The Three Lions may be great players but great team they are certainly not. The team played with neither cohesion nor joy. Although players and manager insisted that all was fine at the camp, outside observers could sense that something had gone amiss and their performances reflected that. Strictly in terms of their play, England played like the "kick and rush" team that Franz Beckenbauer had labeled them after the Algeria game. Yet it seemed like Der Kaiser had hit the nail on the head. England failed to apply any semblance of a passing game, instead relying on long diagonal balls towards the flanks or down the middle and hoping for one of their forwards to latch on to them. They were wasteful in possession as even Algeria looked a better side in their ability to keep possession and move the ball. In effect, even the fundamentals of football seemed to elude the English.

It might be painful to admit for most England fans but the collective failure that was the England performance in South Africa only highlights the shortcomings of their representatives. The cadres of the team such as Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, and the likes of Terry failed perform during this summer's World Cup. In fact they were all made to look ordinary and severely lacking in ability. The so-called "Golden Generation", as the 2001 English FA advertising campaign had dubbed them, failed to leave up to expectations. But were those expectations realistic? The answer is: possibly not. Indeed with players who play in a league called the most competitive in the world, the England fans may have been entitled to hope for something more than a round of 16 exit. They certainly should have but when did "most competitive league in the world" equate to "best league int the world"? These players are showered with praise week in and week out by English newspapers comparing them to the true elite of the sport. The painful fact is that most of these players are not part of that elite. Rooney, a great player he might be, does not rank at the same level of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. The impotent midfield pairing that is Lampard and Gerrard should never be mentioned in the same breath as Spanish duo Xavi and Iniesta, and John Terry is no world class defender by any stretch of the imagination. In a league and football culture that praises athleticism more than technical ability and through a meteoric bringing down to Earth, the English Premiere League's greatest exponents have been shown that they truly lack the level for the World Cup.

The next step now is of course to find the solution. But where do the English really go from here? The Players blame the system and the manager's draconian regime at the camp. Capello blames the disallowed goal and player fatigue due to the long season. Some Blame the unrealistic expectations and pressure put on the team. Others blame the lack of young English talent coming through. The first three are but excuses, as England were put to the sword by the Germans, and all English clubs were knocked out of the Champions League by the semifinal phase. Thus they had more time to rest than those players whose clubs progressed further in the competition. As for pressure, true professionals should be able to play under and deal with the pressures of international football. Finally comes the issue of youth and the grassroots in England. Yes it is lacking but these things are cyclic in nature and the England cycle has simply come to an end. However, it is undeniable that the massive influx of foreigners in the EPL has somewhat crippled the coming through of promising youngsters. After all the English only realized, after callously discounting the Germans they deemed an inferior side to them, that they were beaten by the same U-21 side which hammered England 4-0 at the 2007 European Championships. In the end however it was England's arrogance and their self-proclaimed sense of entitlement to success which were ultimately their undoing here. In effect England's record speaks for itself: in the last 20 years, England has achieved 2 quarterfinals, 2 rounds of 16, and a qualifier. Certainly the Three Lions, the English FA, and England fans would do better to stop looking for excuses and instead search for solutions and answers to the massive inquest to come in these upcoming weeks.

Black Stars Rise Above USA

Ghana overcame the USA team today to book their place in the quarterfinals. It was a gripping tie, requiring extra time for a winner to be decided. The US team once again conceded early in the first half, but were this time unable to overturn the game. There was a glimmer of hope when Donovan smashed in the penalty to restore parity but it all came crashing down after Gyan's extra time winning strike.

Ghana flew out of the traps in the opening minutes of the game and quickly found the goal through a wonderful solo effort from Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose left-footed drive at the 5th minute beat Howard at his near-post. Ghana were the better team of the first half, imposing themselves both through their passing game and movement on and off the ball. Indeed, with and without possession, Ghana seemed the hungrier of the two sides and this translated in their first half domination. The second half was a different story however as the USA gained the ascendancy. The USA team created a host of chances but were unable to fire past Kingson. Ghana, like it had been the case against Germany in their last group game, pulled off and did not apply the kind of pressure they had in the first half. They were punished for it in the Germany game but were let off the hook against the USA who were unable to convert their chances.

The Ghana team is one of the youngest of the tournament and it showed in the game against the US and Germany. Ghana is a team full of ability but they do seem to struggle to see out games. Especially considering that they have often come out dominating the opening moments of their games. They pass the ball well, keep possession, are fluid in their build-up play, and tackle determinately in midfield. The problem of this team is that they seem to suffer of a Jekyll-and-Hyde complex where they simply don't come out in the second half with the same energy and verve that they start out with. In fact it was only after the USA scored the equalizing goal that Ghana came out again to play. It is as if they are caught in between two minds when with the lead as to whether they should attack or hold back. This type of inconsistency can end up costing them in the next round.

Ghana came into this game as a team that was heavily criticized for their lack of a killer instinct. In effect, through their fluid, fast, powerful play, Ghana is a team which has created many chances during each of their games. The problem is that they fail to convert the majority of those chances. Inexperience and youth can both be to blame for this. Ghana had in fact entered their round of 16 encounter against the USA without having scored a goal in open play. Two goals came from open play this time however, with Gyan's being the winner. It all looked like a rather innocuous ball coming in high at the 93rd minute, but Gyan chested it down and drove forward towards goal. He muscled off his Rennes teammate Carlos Bocanegra and rifled in a venomous left-footed drive past Tim Howard. The big change for the Ghana team came about at the inclusion of veteran midfielder Stephen Appiah, as Kevin-Prince Boateng had to come off due to injury. The Black Stars seemed to have regained their composure once he entered the pitch and recovered their passing game to great effect. Thus, in the absence of Essien, Stephen Appiah emerges as a very important element in this Ghana team.

Ghana has thus booked a quarterfinals date with Uruguay. It will be a tough match for the Black Stars, but a winnable one nonetheless. Uruguay's attacking trident will be the threat to Ghana progress. Ghana's midfield play has been very good and they should still have the lion-share of possession as Uruguay is a team that prefers playing on the counter. Ghana will have to be careful playing their usual high press as Suarez and Cavani like to run in behind defenses. Indeed their midfield press strategy was effective in their previous games as they played teams that enjoy building from the back and most of the dangerous playmakers they encountered (Dempsey, Schweinsteiger, Stankovic) enjoy dropping deep and orchestrating from those positions. But Suarez and Cavani both enjoy width and will be making calls for more direct and long passes in behind the Ghana defense. As such we might see Uruguay play less on the ground and with Forlan playing a more advanced and center role than he usually has (like in the opening game against France).

The advantage of this youthful Ghana team however is that it boasts of very dynamic and powerful players on the wings. So If they can attack while keeping their defensive shape, Ghana can avoid being hit on the counter and will have every chance to progress to the semifinals. Forlan might struggle for his usual spaces as the Ghana midfield will be focusing on shutting him down. After all the Atletico Madrid hitman is the main connection from defense to offense and if Ghana can curb his influence on the game they could effectively starve off Suarez and Cavani from good service. The crucial factor though will undoubtedly have to be the inclusion of Appiah in the starting 11. With a place in the semifinals on the line, his experience will prove invaluable for this young side in helping them make World Cup history.