Will Ghana succeed in this World Cup?

February 11, 2010

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac is convinced that Egypt’s greater experience proved decisive in African Nations Cup final.

Mohamed Gedo scored Egypt’s winner five minutes from full-time to deny Ghana, and hand Egypt their third successive continental crown.

Rajevac said: “We are not so experienced, we wanted to win it so badly in our hearts but in the end Egyptian experience was crucial.”

Rajevac’s side was missing several experienced and key players, including the likes of Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah absent through injury, plus Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari, who had arguments with Rajevac, and was not selected into the squad.

However, the Serb revealed there were plenty of positives as well as lessons for his young players to take with them ahead of their next international assignment - the World Cup finals in South Africa.

He added: “Experience gained here will be crucial to our preparations at the World Cup.” “We now have enough time to prepare.” “The young players are the future. But they cannot play on their own. Egypt beat us because they have plenty of experience.”

Ghana, whose average squad age in this African Nations Cup was 23, is in Group D for the coming World Cup, alongside Serbia, Germany and Australia.

The team’s rise bodes well for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as Rajevac counts on the priceless experiences picked up by his young squad.

“They have exceeded all expectations. This is a young team. They were at this tournament to learn, and I think most of them have emerged better players. This has given them priceless exposure to international football and the demands of competing in big tournaments.”

Ghana would open their campaign at the World Cup against Serbia on June 13^th before taking on Australia six days later then round up the group stage with a clash against Germany on June 23^rd.

World Cup maestro Bora Milutinovic has hailed Ghana’s ”positive attitude” ahead of their appearance at the showpiece event in South Africa this summer.

Bora Milutinovic, who is the only manager to lead five different countries to the World Cup, has a host of experience at the top level after leading Mexico to the quarter-finals in 1986, before also coaching Costa Rica (1990), United States (1994) and China when it played its first World Cup in 2002.

The Serbian also led the Nigeria to the second round of the 1998 World Cup finals, but had a positive outlook for his fellow countryman, Ghana coach Milovan Rajevic.

“Ghana have good, young players, and importantly they seem to have momentum behind them. I’m a friend with the coach, he’s done a great job with Ghana. His team has a positive attitude.” “I know they didn’t start this competition [African Nations Cup] very well, but they are gaining experience and don’t forget have qualified for the World Cup.”

Looking ahead to the first World Cup on the African continent he added: “World opinion says it’s time for an African team to win the World Cup, but it won’t be easy, teams have to have constant experience at this level.”

Yes, after watching this African Nations Cup, I admit most of the teams’ performances, including Ghana, were quite poor. Without the experience players such as John Mensah, John Paintsil, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah, etc., Ghana showed they were very common and too young. According to the statistics, usually the average squad age of a winning team should be around 26 to 28. I’m quite sure until now they do not have the ability to beat Germany. They will also have great problem when they play with Serbia. They may have a better chance in the Australia game. However, I believe the Australians will give them a hard time. As a result, although Group D is not the most difficult one, it is not easy for Ghana to go to the second round.

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