Group E Italy ... 2 Ghana ... 0The Italians are smiling again. After an unbearably tense week of foreboding, Marcello Lippi's beleaguered superstars opened their World Cup on a broiling night in Hanover, unpicking a Ghana team that have already enriched this epic tournament.
After an emotional evening, Italy's fabulous range of strikers eased the worries of a nation but it was the uninhibited and gallant approach of the African debutants that made this passionate encounter memorable.
Ghana set out with belief from the beginning, a cheeky flick in the first minute from Assamoah Gyan drawing raucous approval from their colourful gallery. Playing Italy was a dream beginning for the African support and, much like Irish fans in Giants Stadium 12 years ago, they delighted in the blossoming conviction with which their team ran at the lords of the European game.
Stephen Appiah, first recruited to Serie A by Marcello Lippi some eight years ago, was out to show his old admirer something about his country's culture and with Mickael Essien and Assamoah Gyan, he was a shining light for the newcomers.
Italy tested Essien's reputation as Ghana's enforcer with a clattering tackle by De Rossi on seven minutes. The midfielder was booked for his troubles but Italy were fortunate as Gyan was clear through on goal. Twenty minutes later, he took the brunt of Fabio Cannavaro's attempt to meet Francesco Totti's in-swinging corner during an intense period of pressure from the Italians.
The Chelsea man was central to Ghana's attacking ambitions. Playing a tight man-marking system formation, with Samuel Kuffor and John Mensah matching up against Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino, Ghana attacked in waves and as the game opened up, Essien began to try his luck from distance, drawing a fine save off Gianluigi Buffon when his speculative right foot shot dipped viciously on 54 minutes.
Ghana played tightly on the Italians, with Gyan blocking languid clearances from both Alessandro Nesta and Cannavaro in a blazing statement of African intent. They challenged aggressively for every ball and Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic was prepared to live with the consequences of leaving his back two exposed. After 26 minutes the threat was explicitly illuminated when Toni spun beautifully away from Kuffor and drove a thrilling right foot shot against Richard Kingston's crossbar. Unfazed, the Africans ran straight back at their opponents, with Gyan taking the ball fearlessly at Cannavaro before firing to the right of Buffon's goal.
Italy's most telling possession came along the right wing, with the economical Andrea Pirlo particularly prominent. He delivered a low, snaking cross from the right wing in the 13th minute which eluded Toni but which half fell to Alberto Gilardino, who scrambled a weak pass underneath Richard Kingston that dribbled against the post for a corner.
Kingston looked troubled during Italy's first-half assault from corners and flapped at a series of crosses. Because of that, Ghana's defence was packed tightly for a 40th minute corner that originated from a mesmerising piece of skill from Toni who forced Mensah into a desperate clearance. And when Andrea Pirlo popped up on the left wing to receive a short ball, he had ample time to deliver his shot, a blasted accurate effort that was helped towards goal by Gilardino's clever sidestep out of the flightpath of the shot. There was a suspicion that the ball glanced of Kuffor just before it found the net, a premonition of the ill-luck that was to haunt the brave Rennes defender later on the game.
It was his nightmarish backpass that allowed substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta - who had been carried off in apparent agony just five minutes before - to chase down Pirlo's nonchalant lob forward and he rounded Kingston and chose his moment before embarking on a typically emotional burst of celebrations. That 83rd minute goal all but finished the gallant Ghanaian side. They had played with consistent adventure and spirit throughout the last forty minutes, Essien testing Buffon from 30 yards on 54 minutes and, at the other end, Kingston atoning for his earlier mistakes by producing a stunning point black save against Simone Perrotta.
Ghana's courage ought to have been rewarded with 20 minutes left. When substitute Illisu Shilla knocked down a perfect ball for the tireless Gyan, De Rossi unceremoniously bundled the Serie B man down. Brazilian referee Carlos Simon ignored the deafening whistles and just smiled implacably when Gyan fell at Daniele De Rossi's feet again some six minutes later, wagging his finger at the devastated forward. It was a debatable incident but penalties have been given for less.
But as Ghana pressed on, they left their back line treacherously exposed and Iaquinta, after his theatrics, had the class to finish when presented with Kuffour's gift.
By then, Lippi had unveiled the range iconic range of talent at his disposal, giving the frustrated del Piero 10 minutes to shine. "We played a good match today and I am happy," he l said afterwards, a hint of his old sang-froid back in evidence. "Ghana didn't surprise us, we knew they would be athletic and organised."
Kuffour left the field to rapturous applause but was in tears because of his blunder. At the other end of the field, Gianliugi Buffon, the Juventus goalkeeper haunted by betting allegations coming into this tournament, smiled as he has not done in months. The Italians may be back in business. They might be worth a flutter.
SUBSTITUTIONS
ITALY: Camoranesi for Totti (55 mins inj), Iaquinta for Gilardino (64 mins), Del Piero for Toni (80 mins).
GHANA: Shilla for Pappoe (half-time), Pimpong for Amoah (69 mins), Tachie-Mensah for Gyan (89 mins).
Referee: C Simon (Brazil).
