Competition: 2010 World Cup
Teams: Ghana vs Germany
Venue: Soccer City Stadium - Johannesburg
Date: June 23, 2010
Time: 20:30 Local Time [6:30PM Ghana Time]
Africa’s trailblazer at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Ghana are a victory away from causing one of the major upsets in the competition - sending Germany to its earliest exit ever from a World Cup.
The Black Stars sit top in Group D on four points, thus one point better than Germany and Serbia, who are both on three and Australia with a point going into the decisive final group clashes. A scenario which clearly means all four sides have a chance of progressing.
However, the prospect of missing out of any of the two slots up for grabs in the last 16 makes the final day matches very crucial.
Ghana, second round finishers in their debut finals four years ago in Germany could ensure that Germany exit at the group stage for the first time ever if the Black Stars win the game at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium on Wednesday.
Both sides with good track records from previous competitions have faced such similar situations before and are aware of the permutations.
But either side would be more comfortable winning the crucial tie rather than depending on the other group result to fancy their chances of progression.
Milovan Rajevac, coach of Ghana is very calm in his approach towards the game.
“We will see how things go against Germany. Even if we had won [against Australia], the last match, it would still have been very important," he said.
"You see, there is no game won in advance at the World Cup,” Rajevac says ahead of Wednesday’s clash.
Germany coach Joachim Low, aware of the task ahead for his team is anticipating a tough, physical encounter against the Black Stars.
"Ghana are fast and can play well on the counter, they don't shy away from one-to-one duels as they are strong, they have players who can put in fantastic sprints," said the German coach.
"The general tempo against Ghana will be higher than Serbia, the Serbs were a bit slow out of the blocks and they had a draw in mind with only one forward.
"It will be quicker, but fitness is written with a capital 'F' in the Germany squad and we can cope with it."
A combination of results after the first two rounds of matches in Group D reveals an interesting analysis:
Permutations
- If both games end in draws, Ghana finish top and Germany second.
- If Germany beat Ghana and Serbia beat Australia, Germany finish top and Serbia second.*
- If Germany beat Ghana and Australia beat Serbia, Germany finish top and Ghana or Australia second.**
- If Ghana beat Germany and Serbia beat Australia, Ghana finish top and Serbia second.
- If Ghana beat Germany and Australia beat Serbia, Ghana finish top and Australia second.
- If Germany and Ghana draw and Serbia beat Australia, Serbia finish top and Ghana second.
- If Germany and Ghana draw and Australia beat Serbia, Ghana finish top and Germany or Australia second.**
- If Ghana beat Germany and Australia and Serbia draw, Ghana finish top and Serbia second.
- If Germany beat Ghana and Australia and Serbia draw, Germany finish top and Ghana or Serbia second.**
* First place will be determined by overall goal difference.
**Second place will be determined by overall goal difference.