Ghana - Team Profile

Manager: Kwesi Appiah

Best finish: Quarter-finals (2010)

World Cup record: Played 12, Won 4, Drawn 3, Lost 5

History

They didn't qualify for a World Cup until 2006 but after losing their opening game 2-0 to eventual champions Italy, they made their mark, beating the Czech Republic and United States to finish runners-up in the group. Brazil ended their run with a 3-0 victory. They went one better in 2010, becoming just the third African team to reach the last eight when they beat the US in the last 16, before Uruguay (and that Luis Suarez handball) knocked them out in the quarter-finals on penalties.

Whiteboard

Four at the back, the hugely experienced trio of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari anchoring midfield, Asamoah Gyan up front, with Kwadwo Asamoah of Juventus supporting from the left, and Marseille's Andre Ayew on the right. That's the predicted line-up anyway, and it looks half decent.

All Star - Asamoah Gyan

The captain seems to have been around forever, but he’s a mere baby at 28, and he’s still the chief source of Ghana’s goals. He got six in as many qualifying appearances, helping his country to their third World Cup finals, where he will hope to exorcise the ghost of that missed penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 quarter-finals.

County Colours - Louth

Cruelly denied in 2010 and they didn’t half go on about it.

Pundit's Corner – Pele: "An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000, and it could be Ghana. " Any minute now, so.

Prospects

Five wins out of six saw them top their qualifying group before they beat Egypt 7-3 on aggregate in a play-off. Their greatest strength is a midfield packed with experience, but they are still trying to settle on a back four. That'll be a worry against Germany but they can upset the US and Portugal in Group G.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: 1 Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars), 12 Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset/Nor), 16 Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates,RSA.

Defenders: 2 Samuel Inkoom (Platanias, Gre), 4 Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Bel), 15 Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA), 19 Jonathan Mensah (Evian, Fra), 21 John Boye (Rennes, Fra), 23 Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tun).

Midfielders: 5 Michael Essien (AC Milan, Ita), 6 Afriyie Acquah (Parma, Ita), 7 Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem, Ned), 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Ita), 10 Andre Ayew (Marseille, Fra), 11 Sulley Muntari (AC MIlan, Ita), 14 Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, Eng), 17 Mohammed Rabiu (Kuban Krasnodar, Rus), 20 Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Ita), 22 Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan, Rus)

Forwards: 3 Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, Abu Dhabi), 9 Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke, Ger), 13 Jordan Ayew (Sochaux, Fra), 18 Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes, Fra).

TEAM LINE-UPS

GHANA (v USA): 11 Adam Kwarasey; 4 Daniel Opare, 21 John Boye, 19 Jonathan Mensah, 20 Kwadwo Asamoah; 17 Mohammed Rabiu (yc) (5 Michael Essien, 71 mins), 11 Sulley Muntari (yc); 7 Christian Atsu (14 Albert Adomah, 78 mins), 13 Jordan Ayew (9 Kevin-Prince Boateng, 59 mins), 10 Andre Ayew; 3 Asamoah Gyan.

GHANA (v Germany): 16 Fatau Dauda; 23 Harrison Afful, 21 John Boye, 19 Jonathan Mensah, 20 Kwadwo Asamoah; 11 Sulley Muntari (yc), 17 Mohammed Rabiu (8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, 78 mins);  7 Christian Atsu (22 Mubarak Wakaso, 72 mins), 9 Kevin-Prince Boateng (13 Jordan Ayew, 52 mins), 10 Andre Ayew; 3 Asamoah Gyan.

GHANA (v Portugal): 16 Fatau Dauda; 23 Harrison Afful (yc), 21 John Boye, 19 Jonathan Mensah, 20 Kwadwo Asamoah; 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, 17 Mohammed Rabiu (6 Afriyie Acquah, 76 mins); 7 Christian Atsu, 10 Andre Ayew (22 Mubarak Wakaso, 81 mins); 3 Asamoah Gyan, 18 Abdul Majeed Waris (yc) (13 Jordan Ayew (yc), 71 mins).