Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Ghana sets sights on another win, 2nd round
By Timothy Collings
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 06 - 2010

Ghana hopes to have more than birthdays to celebrate Saturday when it seeks to clinch its passage to the World Cup second round with a decisive Group D triumph over Australia.
After goalkeeper Richard Kingson marked his 32nd birthday last Sunday with a fine display in the Black Stars' opening 1-0 win over Serbia, it was the turn Tuesday of defender John Pantsil, who was 29.
In a typically flamboyant display of African joy, the squad partied with hotel staff, enjoyed a cake and a food fight, before coach Milovan Rajevac ensured normal concentration was resumed. He knows Ghana has an excellent chance to be Africa's most successful side here and could at least emulate Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) in reaching the quarterfinals.
But it must first overcome an Australia team stung by a 4-0 thrashing by Germany and missing talismanic attacking midfielder Tim Cahill, suspended after being sent off.
If that is achieved, with the concentration required to match its talent, it will set up a likely second-round clash back in Rustenburg with the winner from Group C.
That would pit it against Slovenia, England, Algeria or the United States - presuming Germany goes on to win Group D.
A victory over always-tenacious Australia cannot be taken for granted, however, as Ghana has won only once against it in six previous meetings.
Serbian coach Rajevac has warned against complacency.
“For Australia, this is the last chance,” he said. “They are a very competitive nation and I am sure they will fight. Their performance against Germany did not show the real picture.”
Rajevac is likely to pick an unchanged side, though he may consider giving captain Stephen Appiah a start in a team moulded from two outstanding generations of Ghanaian players.
The 2001 vintage reached the world youth cup final while the current crop won the under 20's trophy in Egypt in 2009.
Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek has had to fight fires and rebuild morale this week. He may bring in Harry Kewell, who has recovered from a long-term injury, to replace Cahill and may also select Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy, who are also fit.
Kewell, 31, arguably Australia's finest player, if not as effective as Cahill, has rejected talk of rifts and rallied the team.
“It wasn't a great effort against Germany, but there are two games to go and anything can happen in a World Cup,” he said. “We were all disappointed in that game, but we are all men and we take it on the chin. There are still two games to go and we have got time to turn things around.”
With captain Lucas Neill marshalling a solid defense that conceded only four goals in 14 qualifiers, before being punctured as many times by the Germans, the Socceroos are expected to produce a gritty display.
But it may not be enough against one of the most athletic and powerful attacking teams in the tournament even in the absence of Michael Essien whose knee injury ruled him out.


Clic here to read the story from its source.