A relaxed Ghana team intends to carry the hopes of Africa into the World Cup knockout rounds, with Black Stars' captain Stephen Appiah saying he and his teammates will give their all to advance.

"All the guys are ready to die for the nation," the former Juventus midfielder said.

Appiah sounded a confident note here Wednesday on the eve of a Group E match against the United States.

A victory would send the World Cup debutantes into the round of 16, likely against 2002 champions Brazil.

"All Africans are looking for us to do extraordinary things, to go far. That's why we're here, to make our country and Africa proud. We're a good team and we want to show the world who we are," Appiah said.

"Maybe before, 20,000 people knew Ghana. Now there are lots of flags of Ghana. We're going to be known around the world.

"We don't feel extra pressure. We're cool and we're ready. The most important thing is we are ready to play each and every team we might face."

Ghana pulled off the shocker of the Cup with a 2-0 upset of the Czech Republic, but the Black Stars know they cannot rest on their laurels.

"The match against Czech Republic is gone. We have to look forward. We want to go far and we have proven with our performance we can do it," Appiah said.

"It will be difficult for us, but I think we can make it. Everything is possible. I understand we don't have a lot of experience. But we do have the quality. We have played well. We have to continue at that level.

"Perhaps now is our time."

Ratomir Dujkovic, Ghana's 60-year-old Serbian coach, predicted Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will score Thursday for the Black Stars and said he believes the team could reach the final four.

"I believe in our guys. If the Black Stars continue on this level, I'm not worried," he said. "I'm an optimist. I still believe Ghana's Black Stars can reach the semi-finals."

Essien, a major worry for the Americans, "has played on a level he always plays," Dujkovic added.

"I believe he will continue. I believe he will start scoring goals from tomorrow."

In a stadium barely a Jesse Owens-dash from the ruins of where Adolf Hitler often paraded Nazi battalions in the 1940s, Appiah dismissed any notion of making the rich nation-poor nation showdown more than sport.

"We know America is a big country and Ghana is a small country," he said. "But it's just a game of football."

Appiah also said the team has discussed proper celebration procedures, making a repeat of the controversial Israeli flag waving incident from the Czech match unlikely.

That break in discipline was the exception for a Ghana team that came together when Dujkovic took over.

"I applied discipline to this team," Dujkovic said. "If a player comes late to breakfast, he will come late to make cover on the ground. If he cannot be disciplined on the ground the result is always negative."

Having a coach who looks ahead to a potential round of 16 match with Brazil might be seen as a discipline breach, but Dujkovic makes no apologies for confidence.

"We're optimistic we can win. If we have to face Brazil, it will be great," he said. "Of course that's what we're expecting it will be if we win.

"The Black Stars have a nickname - Brazilians from Africa. That would be a great match, two Brazils."