Preview: Brazil vs. Ghana

June 27th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

GAME DETAILS
Brazil vs. Ghana, Dortmund, 17:00 CET
Travel to Dortmund
Bet on Brazil vs. Ghana (UK Bettors Here – Free 40 pound bet)
World Cup Gear: Brazil | Ghana

THE BIG PICTURE
Tournament holders Brazil came away with the maximum points in the first round with three straight wins. The Brazil offense came to life in the second half of its final group play match against Japan with Ronaldo scoring a pair of goals to tie for the all-time World Cup scoring lead. Today they take on a Ghana side that shocked the world by finishing second in Group E. Ghana’s team is fast and plays an open style of football that should make this game an interesting one to watch. Ghana will be without star Michael Essien who will be serving a suspension for the two yellow cards he picked up in the first round. Brazil will be at full strength. Brazil have a 100 percent record and have yet to concede a goal against African opposition at the World Cup. They have beaten Zaire (1974), Algeria (1986), Cameroon (1994) and Morocco (1998).

Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers, name, caps, goals, coach:

Brazil (4-4-2): 1-Dida (89-0); 2-Cafu (147-0), 3-Lucio (53-2), 4-Juan (41-2), 6-Roberto Carlos (129-10); 17-Gilberto Silva (41-3), 19-Juninho Pernambucano (40-4), 8-Kaka (37-10), 10-Ronaldinho (69-30); 9-Ronaldo (101-64), 23-Robinho (21-5) Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

Ghana (4-4-2): 22-Richard Kingston (36-0); 15-John Paintsil (24-0), 13-Habib Mohammed (3-0), 5-John Mensah (36-0), 7-Shilla Illiasu (5-0); 9-Derek Boateng (13-3), 10-Stephen Appiah (44-12), 20-Otto Addo (15-1), 11-Sulley Muntari (18-6); 14-Matthew Amoah (19-7), Asamoah Gyan (15-9) Coach: Ratomir Dujkovic

LIVEBLOG
Follow the match highlights as they happen on the these instructions. Whether you are at the game, or cheering along at your local pub, record the action and send them in.

IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS

Brazil

Brazil borders every country in South America except Chile and Ecuador.

Brazil has more species of monkeys than any other country.

Brazil has the 2nd highest number of airports in the world.

Brazil Team Blog
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Ghana

Ghana derived its name from the 10th century Empire of Ghana which was actually located closer to the Sahara than on the coast as the country of Ghana is today.

Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the world’s largest man-made lake.

Traditionally, a Ghanaian is named after the day of the week on which he or she was born.

Ghana Team Blog
Team Roster
Buy a Ghana jersey to support the team

TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS

Ghana Team Blog
Brazil Team Blog

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://brasil felix

dejesa de basil
http://worldcupblog.org ranjit

if brasil has been waiting for the right moment to shift into a higher gear, then they will beat ghana. if not, and this is all they have, ghana is the nation to send tham home.

ghana needs two quick goals and for experienced essien to hold the ball after that.

easier said than scored mind you. either way, i think brasil is going to play the laid back game they have been playing and not joga bonita anyone’s ego.
ab initio

Brasil will not have Robinho and Ghana will not have Essien.

Ghana will be hurt more as a result.

This should be a very exciting game with Ghana’s speed and attacking style. Will Brasil take their game up to the next level?
Jodido

The slaughter begins….

That card on Essien was crap that really hurt them. Without him, Ghana are going to be massacred.
Sanbor Mawrie

Brazil’s victory so far has been a cake walk. Early victory breeds complacency and complacency may result into and early flight home. So, Brazil must wake up and put a alittle more into the game. The road to July 9 its not going to be easy. I hope to see Brazil beat the heck out of the Germans on July 9!!!

Sanbor Mawrie
Berrien Springs, Michigan
David Joseph

I hope to see Ghana beat to Brazil

D.J
Bangladesh
Jansen

If Ghana win it will be the best and most amazing thing ever.
http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/ Euler

I agree 200% with Sanbor. This match will be the big test for Brazil. Robinho can’t play today, unfortunately.

Go Brazil! Rumo ao Hexa!
robert jones

i have a speed bump on me belly
http://pepys_s.rediffblogs.com/ mohan

This monopoly of Brazil over World Cup is annoying, plus they are an over-hyped team. They may play great football individually, but it is not that they have to win every match they play. Brazilian football is attractive to watch, but their defence has always been very brittle, so much so that every team has a reasonable chance to score against them. It is this chink in their defence that Ghana must exploit. Ghana are a surprise package of this World Cup and are keeping the African flag flying proudly. Every footballer should root for the underdog, unless he or she is Brazilian of course :)
Deviilz.

..my bookies quote me these odds
fot this match :
Brasil to win by 2 goals or more margin within the 90mins.
Which team will be the better wager..?
http://brazil.worldcupblog.org Zé

Watch out, the link for the liveblog on the article is wrong and it’s eating the rest of the text.
http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/group-f/pre-game-brazil-vs-ghana.html Pre-game: Brazil vs Ghana – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Brazil World Cup Team Blog

[...] The match starts in one hour and a half; see the preview here and follow it live here. [...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA armando

Good luck to both Teams!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA
dietmar

@mohan, sure would be a proud country if they beat brazil. seems to me if there is 1 team that can do it, they are the team! best of luck to ghana, should be a real barn-burner!
although, we could be in for a brazillian scoring bonanza…this will be exiting to watch.
Deviilz.

…some punters said Ghana will be without their star Essien,thus the Brasil’s midfield will be in control and can manage a 2 goals or more margin win over Ghana within the 90mins.Confidently..!
Where am i gonna put my money..?
I reckon Ghana is kinda good to get through to the round of 16..,can the black-stars hold Brasil,and go on to win this match..?
ETucker

Ghana will sorely miss Essien.

Nevertheless, they are a very fit, physical team that can keep up with Brazil’s athelticism.

However, I expect a 3-1 affair, with Ghana’s lone goal coming off a counter.
Dave Hamilton

Nothing has changed despite my prediction being ambushed yesterday by a late Kewell absence and a lousy ref. Brasil sails on 3-0.

Jogo bonito,
Dave hamildav@yahoo.com
Deviilz.

Thanks for your piece of mind ET.
I know now where to put my $$$$.
matthew

I’m guessing Ghana will be in a 1-1 situation and that the ref will call a bad penalty against Ghana for no reason, resulting in an unmissable pk for Brasil. I call ‘em like I see’s ‘em!

That’s just one of the many way I anticipate the ref’s screwing up this game for either team. I really enjoy both teams and just pray for a good match in the worst called World Cup of all time.
http://brazil.worldcupblog.org Zé

ab initio: you really think so? With Robinho playing the connection between midfield and forwards, Brazil gained much more agility. See the overall difference between Brazil vs Croatia/Australia and Brazil vs Japan. MUCH of it is due to Robinho. I’m pretty afraid of what might happen now, with Adriano and Ronaldo up front.

Anyways, Essien is still only one more player. The same goes for Robinho. If a team loses because of only one player, they weren’t entitled to win a World Cup anyways.
hobart

WHERES THE LIVE BLOG??
Kyle

Hey, Ghanaria, your not Ghana win! =)
Gabriel

hmmmm, in my opinion, for ghana to win this game the will have to put up a goo defense against brasil or they will likely get scored, but the question can they put a good defense, and still maintain enough players to score the necessary goal in offense? brasil on the other hand, their defense is perfect in my opinion and they got scored only once by japan, they need to start playing better offense because they get various chances to score but they for the most part miss it and kick it to hell, im brazilian so i will be going for brazil all the way :D
Deviilz.

My mind’s set..,I’m going for a Brasil win with 2 goals or more margin within the 90mis..,
common Brasil..!that’s quarter of my salary..!
Carlos

Because of what Ghana has done so far, it will be an interesting game. What an upset if Brazil losses, huh?
Dave Hamilton

Brasil just won 3-0, exactly the score I predicted. I
could afford 1,000 Hefe Weizen Dunkles right now, but
I’ll just hoist one for the English toast I will be smelling soon — provided they can beat Ukraine.

Dave hamildav@yahoo.com
Kofi Boateng

In the actual fact, the officiating which was conducted by the Czech refree at World Cup 2006 held in Germany was too bias. I suggest all FIFA Executives and the invited refrees to play the recorded match to assess, analysis etc. more especially the first [1st] goal Rolando scored. In fact, with the over all President Sepp Blatter emphasised that he do not seen any thing with it. Meaning the Czech referee had down the right job to his Mr. Blatter’s favour. If, this is so, then FIFA and Co. should leave African to live in peace always invite poor black Africa and disagree them.
It is improper to allow the refrees to cheat the Africans. I suggest strongly that Prez Blatter should leave blacks after we are not begging for nothing because of bias comment he made, some of the Europeans, Africans, North Americans and almost 91% of the world countries were citicize on bad officiating led by the Czech Referee and its lines men.
Besides, if this is how Prez. Blatter is going to treat the blacks he should put a stop by inviting us to World Cup in future.
Thank you.
http://google rwitoban ghosh

MY FAVOURITE TEAM IS BRAZIL. YOU HAVE TO WIN ON 2010 WORLD CUP BECAUSE YOU ARE RANKED ONE.IF YOU DONT WIN I WILL NOT BE YOUR SUPPORTER ANY MORE. RONALDO, RONALDINHO YOU DIDNT PLAY SO WELL I WANT YOU TO PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME BECAUSE YOU ARE SO TALENTED AND SUPERBEST PLAYER.
http://rwitobanghosh rwitoban ghosh

My name is Rwitoban Ghosh . I read in class 5 in Don Bosco Park Circus. I love to play footbal very much, especially in twilight field. I have got interest in magic too. Criss Angel , David Blaine and PC Sarkar are my favourite magicians . My ambition is to become a space astrophysicist alongside my hobbies are to become an illusionist and magician and a football player.