If you’re unfamiliar with World Cup Blog, then allow me to explain: The blog you’re reading now is the front page, but the core of WCB is the multitude of team specific blogs, including one for each of the World Cup 2010 teams.
The authors of these team blogs have forgotten more about their sides than I’ll ever know, so I decided to tap that knowledge by asking each of them a set of 10 questions. Today it’s the turn of Gary from Ghana World Cup Blog. Read on to learn all about The Black Stars…
1. Who is Ghana’s best player?
Now that’s hard. I can’t say, though I can tell you I have a very high regard for Michael Essien and Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese) at the moment. Essien is a jack-of-all-trades midfield monster while Kwadwo Asamoah can be said to be the Messi of the Ghana team (though he is nowhere near Lio’s imperious form now). Samuel Inkoom gets a mention and of course Anthony Annan and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu. Those last two are all Essien-lite!
2. What do you think of Ghana’s coach?
Personally, except for one or two issues, the way Milovan Rajevac led the team to Angola pleased me. He played to our strengths and everyone agreed that the tactical discipline in this side was a new sight. Let me say here, that the team that went to Angola would not be the same as what will be seen this summer. Key players have been injured in the past few months and when they come, they’ll take their spots because we need the experience.
3. What do you think of Ghana’s World Cup 2010 kits?
They are great, well designed but not the best we’ve ever seen. Still, not bad.
4. What is Ghana’s biggest strength?
Strength of the team has for years been the midfield, yet the African Nations Cup has shown a collective defensibility in the side that we haven’t seen in about ten years. That said, this Ghana team is in transition and there are some great players coming through who may explode in South Africa. Eight of the team that won the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt were in Angola and some of them are really giving the coach headaches because he is suddenly spoilt for choice in certain areas.
5. …and biggest weakness?
Straight up: it’s the left back. It has been our problem for ages. The coach said in December: “We have always had problems with the left back slot so this is a chance to try other players in that position.”
About four players have been used in that role in the last few months and many teams find that as Ghana’s Achilles heel. However, certain players in the local premier league are mounting a strong challenge for that slot and fingers-crossed, we may get a natural left-back soon.
Striking is also a headache. We rely heavily on the midfield for goals. Strikers usually don’t bang in much however Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth) would soon be given the okay to represent Ghana. And Mario Balottelli of Inter is being persuaded to feature for us. Now that would be some attack!
6. If you could steal one player from any other World Cup 2010 team, then who would it be and why?
Lionel Messi. Errr…do you really need an explanation? J
7. Tell us one thing about your team that the rest of the world might not know…
Just a few weeks ago, Ghana witnessed a remarkable achievement when Aduana Stars, a team that only came into Ghana’s Premier League this season, managed to win it on their first attempt. For their efforts, their goalie Stephen Adams has been named in the provisional World Cup squad and would likely make it into the final one too. He kept 20 clean sheets in 30 games.
8. What would you consider success/failure for your team at World Cup 2010?
Failure to get to the second round.
9. What are you most excited about at World Cup 2010?
The chance to see how Africa takes the pressures of a very anti-African western media as it hosts its first mundial.
10. Who do you think will win World Cup 2010?
Brazil, Spain or Argentina.
>> Supporting The Black Stars in the World Cup? Put on your Ghana jersey, get your Ghana World Cup tickets, and get to the stadium! If you’re watching from home, keep up to date with Ghana World Cup Blog, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
