Ghana – World Cup squad analysis (23 for 2010)

With a training camp in France underway as of May 24th, Ghana’s final preparations for the first ever World Cup on African soil have well and truly begun. But of the 29 players called up by Serbian tactician Milovan ‘Milo’ Rajevac, which 23 will make it to South Africa? Well, dear reader, let us analyse away with the team Ghanasoccernet describes as Africa’s biggest 2010 World Cup threat (they would, wouldn’t they?):

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).

Put simply, Richard Kingson is the number one here. He is the boss in town, and it is highly unlikely one of Daniel Agyei, Stephen Ahorlu or Stephen Adams would be able to displace the Wigan Athletic man were it not for cruel fate or injuries.

But that’s just the thing. Injuries and cruel fate have both befallen Kingson, the most capped Ghanaian player in the 29 man squad, in recent times, and as such the Black Stars are sweating on the fitness of their number one man. Kingson has not played for several months due to a shoulder injury, and with his contract at Wigan up this summer, and seemingly unlikely to be renewed, things are up in the air for the man named second best keeper at the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Of the three possible replacements all have their merits. Stephen Ahorlu has been one of the top keepers in the Ghanaian Premier League for several seasons now, while Agyei was a star at the Under-20 World Cup 2009 in Egypt and is seen by many as heir apparent to Kingson’s throne. Stephen Adams is new on the scene after an excellent breakthrough season at Aduana Stars, but his real inexperience at this level will likely count against him on such a stage.

Defenders:

Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Eric Addo (Roda JC), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham).

Ghana’s road to the 2010 African Cup of Nations final was built chiefly on defensive solidity and with Rajevac at the helm, cautious tactician that he is, expect Ghana to once again build from the back.

John Mensah is the fulcrum at the heart of the Black Stars defence, but his availability is open to question after he picked up an injury towards the end of the Premier League season with Sunderland. Persistent back problems also haunt the Ghanaian giant.

Since starring for Ghana Under-20s during that World Cup winning tournament in 2009, Samuel Inkoom’s stock just keeps rising. The right back spot is all but his now, despite competition from Fulham’s John Paintsil. Hoffenheim’s Isaac Vorsah was superb at the African Cup of Nations 2010 in January, and he will likely add to his 12 caps in South Africa. A strong, ball-playing centre back, Vorsah has excelled since moving to the Bundesliga, growing both positionally and tactically, and will be a key man at the heart of Ghana’s defence.

At left back is Hans Sarpei. Not a particular favourite of mine (he is quite lumbering, very one footed and positionally questionable), but with Lee Addy perhaps not quite experienced enough for such a high profile competition, expect Sarpei to start the majority of Ghana’s matches health permitting.

Midfielders:

Sulley Muntari (Internazionale), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah (both Udinese), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moscow), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd), Bernard Kumordzie (Panionios), Laryea Kingston (Hearts), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth).

Ghana’s engine room, and probably their most talented area of the pitch – the midfield. Gifted players litter this position – Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew, Appiah, Annan and of course, Michael Essien – to my mind one of the top 5 central midfielders in world football.

‘Milo’ the coach has an abundance of options here and will likely play either 2 holding midfielders as screens, 3 in front of them and 1 striker (4-2-3-1) or a 4-1-3-2 formation with a midfield pivot such as Udinese’s Kwadwo Asamoah - a revelation in Angola earlier this year.

The problem though is who plays and who is fit? Both Essien and Appiah are key men for the experience, influence and all round aura they bring to the team. But Appiah has not played regular football for around 2 years now, while Essien has been injured since picking up a knock in Angola back in January. Playing either of them would be risky business for Rajevac, which may hand the likes of Anthony Annan and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu starting berths as holding midfielders.

It is good to see Muntari back in the squad after his absence from the African Cup of Nations 2010 for discplinary breaches. If Rajevac feels adventurous he could fit Muntari, Ayew, Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng into a highly dynamic, exciting midfield four. But more likely, assuming Essien can’t play, is it that he’ll align Annan and Agyemang-Badu behind Asamoah, Muntari and one of Ayew, Boateng or Lokomotiv Moscow’s pacy wingman Haminu Draman.

Midfield is a key area for Ghana. Their entire tournament could hinge on the battles won and lost in this part of the field.

Forwards:

Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (Milan).

It is an interesting quirk of the modern game that forwards are, arguably, not as important or central to a team’s fortunes as they once were. The days of great World Cup strike partnerships, like Bebeto/Romario or Caniggia/Batistuta, seem like relics of a distant age. As with many teams at World Cup 2010, one upfront will do Ghana thankyou very much.

After a coming of age string of performances at the 2010 African Cup of Nations then, Rennes’ awkward striker Asamoah Gyan is likely to be the main man up top. It was heartwarming to see Gyan perform so well in Angola after some dodgy displays in Ghana 2008 led to him being targeted by the boo boys.

Gyan clearly took the criticisms from his own fans at that tournament very personally, even threatening to quit the national setup at one stage. So it was endearing to see him win the fans over with some towering displays in Angola, in which he led the line with Drogba-like might and scored crucial goals. Injuries permitting (and Gyan has had plenty of those over the years) he will lead the line in South Africa no question.

Matthew Amoah would be the likely replacement or partner if needs be, as the remaining duo – Prince Tagoe and Dominic Adiyiah are both out of either form or favour at their respective clubs. Adiyiah was Golden Boot winner at the Under-20s World Cup, but a move to AC Milan has since stifled his progress.

Ghana’s starting eleven in South Africa? You tell us below.

(Photo credit: Walt Jabsco on Flickr)

23 for 2010, African Football, Ghana, Squad Analysis, World Cup 2010