Czech Republic v Ghana: Those of us who argued that this was a tournament too far for the talented Czechs were made to look pretty silly when they drubbed the USA 3-0 in their opening match. Yet, things may not flow so easily for the Czechs this afternoon in Cologne when they take on Ghana without their two first-choice strikers, Milan Barros and Jan Koller, both injured.
Barros continues to suffer from a mystery foot problem which may yet rule him out of the rest of the tournament while Koller, scorer of the early opening goal against the USA, is ruled out by a hamstring tear which will probably keep him out of the Italy v Czech Republic game next week.
The Czechs' experienced coach Karel Bruckner said yesterday that Ghana could prove a much more difficult test than the USA. In particular, he is worried about his side's ability to handle the athletic, powerful Ghana midfield of Sully Muntari, Michael Essien and Stephan Appiah.
As for his problems up front, Bruckner may resolve them by playing just one man in attack, the experienced Salzburg striker Vratislav Lokvenc with Monaco's Jaroslav Plasil coming into a five-man midfield. Such a selection resolves two problems since it offers extra midfield protection while masking the fact that the Czechs do not have obvious replacements for either Barros or Koller.
Ghana's Serb coach Ratomir Dujkovic seems unlikely to panic after an opening match 2-0 defeat by Italy in which his team held their own for more than 40 minutes. He may well pick the same team hoping that his young, athletic side can hassle the Czechs out of it.
Czech Republic (4-5-1)
Cech; Grygera, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi; Galasek Nedved, Poborsky, Rosicky, Plasil; Lokvenc.
Coach: Karel Bruckner
Ghana (4-4-2)
Kingston; Paintsil, Kuffour, Mensah, Pappoe; Muntari, Essien, Appiah, Addo; Gyan, Amoah.
Coach: Ratomir Dujkovic
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