Game 14 Preview: Ghana vs. USA

GHANA vs. USA

 

 Date: June 16, 2014

Time: 6:00 p.m. EDT

Venue: Estadio das Dunas, Natal

Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 2-0-0 Ghana

Last Match: 2010 World Cup (Round of 16). Ghana def. USA 2-1 in extra time.

Line: Ghana and USA +160

Group G Preview here.

Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.

Team Profiles 

World Ranking: Ghana (37th), USA (13th)

Managers: James Kwesi Appiah (GHA), Jurgen Klinsmann (USA)

Captains: Asamoah Gyan (GHA), Clint Dempsey (USA)

World Cup Appearances: 3 (GHA), 10 (USA)

Best Finish: Ghana (Quarterfinals, 2010), USA (Third Place, 1930)

Qualifying Records: Ghana (6-2-0, GF: 25, GA: 6), USA (11-3-2, GF: 26, GA: 14)

Pre-Tournament Game Results

Ghana

May 31st - Netherlands def. Ghana 1-0
June 9th - Ghana def. South Korea 4-0

USA

May 27th - USA def. Azerbaijan 2-0
June 1st - USA def. Turkey 2-1
June 7th - USA def. Nigeria 2-1

Rosters

Injuries/Discipline

Ghana: Majeed Waris (Questionable - Leg)

USA: N/A

Overview

No better time for revenge for the U.S. They have faced Ghana twice before, lost both games and in both cases those losses eliminated them from the World Cup ('06 and '10).

Expect a wide-open, potentially frantic game in this one. Both the U.S. and Ghana are adept at counter-punching and will look to take every opportunity they can get to push the ball upfield quickly and catch the other team out of position.

The U.S. has had a great run of success under manager Jurgen Klinsmann but have to put it all on the field in this game if they want to get out of Group G. Klinsmann has assembled a team with enormous talent up front but there are plenty of questions on the back end.

The same description can be used for Ghana. Averaged more then 3 goals for per game in qualifying out of Africa and have world-class talents across their front four. It's a defensive line that collapses under the slightest pressure though with an aging central midfield in front of it.

In a game that's sure to feature plenty of goals it's the defences under the microscope. The U.S. has looked competent albeit not great in the centre of the field but has little depth at the full back positions and that is where Ghana will look to expose them with their speed in the attacking midfield.

Ghana found success moving Kwadwo Asamoah back to left back in their final pre-tournament game but their central defence lose their assignments frequently which will be a problem for Ghana as they take on a team that has 3 world-class playmakers and scorers in the centre of the field as the core of their attack.

Personnel

In the Ghanaian Third: Bad matchup for Ghana. Their central defence will have its hands full with Altidore and Dempsey up front and that isn't accounting for Michael Bradley playing behind them. Essien and Muntari are both on the downswings of their respective careers and Bradley should have his way playing around them. Advantage: USA

In the Midfield: The U.S. won't mind holding it up in midfield and playing possession. Ghana want to get through the midfield as quickly as possible. Would tend to favour the U.S. but Ghana are adept at getting the ball from the back to their forwards with lightning speed and accuracy and shouldn't be affected too badly if the U.S. try to clog up the middle of the field. Advantage: Even

In the U.S. Third: It's a lot of speed on the wings for the U.S. defence to be able to handle, and you still need to find a way to account for Gyan and Boateng in the centre of the field, both of whom need just one touch to find the back of the net. It's a better unit as a whole for the U.S. than last encounter, but still facing a touch task in this one. Advantage: Ghana

Goalkeeping: The potential difference in a game that oddsmakers tabbed as being precisely even. Fatau Dauda plays little for his club in South Africa and has only recently become his country's #1. He's also a small goalkeeper, especially relative to his opponent Tim Howard. Howard has led Everton to a long spell of success in the English Premier League and while 35, is still regarded as a top goalkeeper in the world. Advantage: USA

Ghana will win if:

Their central defence and one of Essien and Muntari are enough to shut down the big three for the U.S. Ghana doesn't have to worry about scoring chances, their style of play and personnel up front will get plenty. But the U.S. won't mind getting in to a shootout with Ghana as they have their own group of players up front capable of piling on the goals.

USA will win if:

They can widen their attack to their outside midfielders and full backs. Ghana will bunch up the middle of the field defensively and force the U.S. outside. The U.S. isn't the strongest at playing on the wings but may have to be in order to get the ball forward. They have to find a balance between getting support outside offensively and not overextending up the field. Ghana will leave their wingers high and the U.S. cannot afford to have Ghanaian players on the ball behind their full backs.

Prediction

Tight game, potential for a lot of scoring. They're very similar teams and they know each other well now. They have similar weaknesses and both have quality up front although different strategies. Biggest factor is the Ghana defensive line. Hasn't looked strong leading up to Brazil and Dauda getting thrown in to the fire in this group. Going with the slightest U.S. win. Any result wouldn't shock me though.

USA 2-1 Ghana