Ghana out to stop the US again
RUSTENBURG:
Four years after sending the US crashing out of the World Cup, Ghana’s Black Stars again block the Americans’ path and are the only African team into the knockout rounds.
Several US players have said that the memory of the 2006 flop is in the back of their minds, an exit caused by a 2-1 loss to Ghana in the 2006 group stage. Landon Donovan in particular was ripped for the failure but has moved past it now.
“That was not a good day for me or the team,” said Donovan. “What I remember most is my tentativeness and after that was the finality of it all. I’ve already put that behind me. This is the chance to do something special.”
Ghana’s Black Stars, however, are ready to spoil the US show once again.
“From the beginning of the tournament, we were all dreaming to go to the semi-finals and now we have a big chance to do it,” said defender Hans Sarpei. “Now anything can happen. We are playing very well. We can beat anybody.”
South Korea or Uruguay awaits the US-Ghana winner instead of once-possible powerhouse foes as Germany or Argentina.
US captain Carlos Bocanegra, who calls the Americans “heart attack-esque” for their tendency to play their best when pushed to the edge, knows how dangerous Ghana are. “It’s going to be a difficult game,” said Bocanegra. “They have some players who are capable of scoring goals. They are an athletic side. You never count them out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.
Four years after sending the US crashing out of the World Cup, Ghana’s Black Stars again block the Americans’ path and are the only African team into the knockout rounds.
Several US players have said that the memory of the 2006 flop is in the back of their minds, an exit caused by a 2-1 loss to Ghana in the 2006 group stage. Landon Donovan in particular was ripped for the failure but has moved past it now.
“That was not a good day for me or the team,” said Donovan. “What I remember most is my tentativeness and after that was the finality of it all. I’ve already put that behind me. This is the chance to do something special.”
Ghana’s Black Stars, however, are ready to spoil the US show once again.
“From the beginning of the tournament, we were all dreaming to go to the semi-finals and now we have a big chance to do it,” said defender Hans Sarpei. “Now anything can happen. We are playing very well. We can beat anybody.”
South Korea or Uruguay awaits the US-Ghana winner instead of once-possible powerhouse foes as Germany or Argentina.
US captain Carlos Bocanegra, who calls the Americans “heart attack-esque” for their tendency to play their best when pushed to the edge, knows how dangerous Ghana are. “It’s going to be a difficult game,” said Bocanegra. “They have some players who are capable of scoring goals. They are an athletic side. You never count them out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.