The USA will kick-off its World Cup campaign with arguably its easiest assignment in a very difficult Group G when it meets Ghana on June 16, 2014. But the Americans will know all too well not to underestimate the Black Stars, who have knocked them out of the World Cup in two successive tournaments.
With just days left before the USA’s first group game, the formation manager Jurgen Klinsmann will be deploying against Ghana remains a mystery. Klinsmann has experimented with a midfield diamond in the team’s warm-up games, but issues with the team’s defense using that formation may force him to scrap it altogether. After all, Klinsmann has said he doesn’t think the team can win the World Cup.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Sorting out that midfield-defense relationship will be crucial, especially against the Ghanaians, who have the pace and quality to expose any gaps in the Americans’ defense. But with this being the Americans’ best chance of winning a game in such a tough group, Klinsmann could be prepared to roll the dice with a more adventurous line-up as opposed to a conservative five-man midfield.
Regardless of his approach, all indications are that Klinsmann will still stick with Jozy Altidore as the lone striker, despite his six-month-long goal drought. Even with a lack of goals, Altidore should serve as a decent battering ram against a physical Ghanaian backline.
Altidore’s main task will be to hold the ball up for the likes of Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey, who will be supporting him from midfield. Dempsey, the team’s biggest goal threat with 37 career international goals, returned to the starting line-up from a groin injury to score against Turkey in a recent tune-up game.
The US has won just once in its last seven World Cup games (1-3-3).
Betting on Ghana
Blessed with a quick and talented frontline balanced by a tough and physical midfield, Ghana looks perfectly set up to cause the US all sorts of headaches.
The midfield trio of Andre Ayew, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah are all gifted footballers currently playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. With their impressive speed, they are a threat to launch a lightning quick counterattack, while their technical ability can unlock a particularly shaky US defense.
The three will play in support of lone striker Asamoah Gyan, who led Ghana with three goals in the 2010 World Cup. One of those goals was the deciding strike in extra time that knocked the US out of the competition.
But as impressive as Ghana is going forward, its defense still has serious question marks. Manager James Kwesi Appiah will likely rely on the holding midfield shield of Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien to ably protect the back four. Both are grizzled European football veterans who can impose themselves physically on the American midfield.
Ghana is 4-2-3 all-time in nine World Cup games.
Writer’s Prediction
With Klinsmann setting his team up to go for the win, he leaves his defense exposed to swift Ghanaian counterattacks. Take Ghana to prevail once again over the US at +145.
