Ghana’s chance for World Cup revenge
GREAT SOCCER AND A R1.1M BOOST FOR TAB POOLS
Today sees the conclusion of the group stage of the World Cup with Ghana’s chance for revenge over Uruguay dominating the agenda as the Black Stars look to book a place in the knockout stage.
It’s also the start of an incredible weekend for TAB soccer customers. The end of the group phase will be followed by the first four round-of-16 knockout clashes on Saturday and Sunday, so there’s great football action through the weekend plus TAB is adding over R1 million to 11 pools today through Monday. All the details are in Sowetan Soccer Strike today.
It was a cold Johannesburg winter’s evening 12 years ago when Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African side to advance to the semi-finals, but were thwarted in the most controversial fashion by Uruguay.
Luis Suarez stopped the ball with his hand to deny Ghana a last-gasp winner in extra time and Asamoah Gyan bungled the resultant penalty. The game went to a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won.
Suarez is back in the squad 12 years on, although both he and Edinson Cavani have struggled to impress at the tournament and could be on the bench this afternoon. Instead, Darwin Nunez could be joined in attack by Maxi Gomez, who was bright off the bench against Portugal in their last game, although they ended up losing.
Victory would send Ghana into the knockout round, while a draw would be enough if South Korea do not beat Portugal, who are already through, in the other group game. Again it is within Ghana’s grasp and they can ill afford to slip again.
For Cameroon, the task looks almost impossible. They sit with just one point and can only go through if they beat the mighty Brazil - and if the result of the other Group G game tonight also goes their way when Serbia meet Switzerland.
The Indomitable Lions have banished their first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana in another of the rows that so often sabotage African hopes and put themselves at a further disadvantage. Their chances of causing an upset look minimal, even if Brazil are missing the injured Neymar.
The start of the knockout phase tomorrow has Netherlands up against the USA first and then Argentina versus Australia in the next game. Argentina are hot favourites to beat Australia as they chase Lionel Messi’s dream of winning a first World Cup, but have been humbled at this tournament already by Saudi Arabia.
There has been much talk from the Dutch camp of the team’s potential to go all the way in this tournament in Qatar. They did win their group, but have looked mediocre so far and it will be no surprise if the USA sinks them. “We deserve to be in the position we’re in. And we want to keep going. We don’t want to be going home on Saturday,” said USA coach Gregg Berhalter.