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A Masterful Performance

June 17th, 2006 | By: Robert | 35 Comments »

If you weren’t among the fortunate to see today’s dominant performance by Ghana in Cologne, a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic (ranked #2 by FIFA, by the way), you truly missed the future of African football. Only a day after I was despairing that Angola would be the shining star of Africa in the World Cup, the Black Stars have come back on the strength. The history is too much to mention quickly.

Ghana’s first world cup goal (an Asamoah Gyan jet in the 2d!! minute) is the earliest goal scored by an African nation in the world cup. And the truth is, they should have had 4! a penalty kick by Amoah glanced off the side cross post, and a smart pass by Essien to Gyan for a goal was declared offside on the most dubious of logic. To be fair to Ghana, the Czechs rarely even challenged. And, due to their excessive complaining, played the final 25 minutes a man down and completely disspirited.

The performance was exceptional from all comers, especially the revitalized attack of Amoah and Gyan. The Ghanaians controlled the midfield, and Richard Kingston was rock solid in goal.

Following his antics over the past two days, Sammy Kuffour was nowhere to be seen on the pitch today, and he was not missed. The defense stalled potent Czechs completely.

An amazing performance, I am also indebted to the wonderful Ghana fans for a spirited bit of partisanship. Especially those at Palace Gate Ghanaian Restaurant of Chicago, where I had the pleasure to watch history being made. If you are in the neighborhood, they also serve a mean bowl of soup.

Tags: Group E

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 35 comments.

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By jonathan | June 18th, 2006 at 2:24 am

Ghana simply ran riot today. i was captivated by the performance today. imagine reducing czech to nothing. they played better today and they deserve accolades. hope they kip on improving.at least quarter finals. ghana should work on finishing if not home sweet home.

Posted from Nigeria

By Ulli G | June 18th, 2006 at 2:25 am

I’m watching all the games on Setanta Sports which we receive over satellite here in the New York area. They show all the games live with the commentary in German. I’ve noticed that whenever any of the African teams play, every commentator refers to them as ‘African’ and refers to their European opponents by the name of the specific country that is playing. During the Czech Republic/Ghana game, the commentator referred to the’Africans’ as not yet being smart enough when a ball was cleared by a Ghanaian defender instead of the defender passing the ball to a team-mate and starting a counter attack. This shows that racism and prejudice runs very deep, even among those performing the commentary in these games. It seems that African players must still still struggle for equality and fairness from sports commentators and even those officiating the games.Any comments?

Posted from United States

By sooz | June 18th, 2006 at 3:02 am

Ulli: I believe that what you are saying is absolutely true. I watch canadian feed with english commentary, and I have heard some very objectional comments that come from habit which is rooted deeply in colonialism thinking, but yet thay are inexcusable and damaging. So mix that with partiality in refereeing (which I believe seems to be slowly sorting itself out lately), and we have yet another display of ignorance by those who just don’t get it.

So shine on Beautiful Black Stars, shine on and on and on. Ghana is rockin with pride and happiness!!

Posted from Canada

By Ulli G | June 18th, 2006 at 3:43 am

sooz, the day will come when Afrika will be free, with its own strong football leagues. Then watch out!

Posted from United States

By sooz | June 18th, 2006 at 3:54 am

you are right, Ulli!!! with the help of the African Club Champions League and the Confederation of African Football, 2010 will see a culmination of gathered experience, practised skills, and smart players that can take on the world. and the best part for me is that I plan on being there to experience the beautiful history of it all!

Posted from Canada

By Jerry Huber | June 18th, 2006 at 4:07 am

The center ref of the US/Italy match today should be elevitated to knighthood and praised as the the top ref of the cup games so far. He is the only ref, in all of the games so far, who has had the guts to enforce the rules of the games. The criticism of that ref from the US TV announcers clearly shows they have no knowledge of the rules of the game.
If the ref of the US/Italy game had been the center ref in any of the games in which the African teams played, there would not have been any African players left on the field at the beginning of the second half. The African teams are a disgrace to the game of soccer. The dirty play,the diving, whining and complete lack of understanding of “off sides” ruins the beautiful game of futbol. Apparently FIFA has instructed all the referees and the TV announcers to kiss the African teams arses and pump up the BS. Perhaps they are afraid of being sued by the NAACP.

FIFA needs to ban the African teams from world competition and get rid of the referees that don’t have the guts to enforce the rules of the game -or soccer will wind up just like US football and US basketball. Neither of which is worth watching.

Posted from United States

By Jono | June 18th, 2006 at 4:38 am

Great Job guys!

You have me worrying about the next game, more than I was before the Italy game!

By Ulli G | June 18th, 2006 at 4:39 am

Ha Ha!! Jerry, I gave you some bait and you took it. Thank you. Any other racists out there wants to take a bite.

Posted from United States

By Ulli G | June 18th, 2006 at 4:48 am

good for you, sooz. My team is Germany, but I enjoy good football when I see it. All the best to Ghana.

Posted from United States

By Brazilian | June 18th, 2006 at 4:53 am

Ulli G,
You exposed the hater. But, a word of advice, do not reply to any racist, we are here for football talk, replying to them will only encourage them and make them feel important. Football is a physical game and the guys were good.

Posted from United States

By Jono | June 18th, 2006 at 5:05 am

Jerry…I don’t know where to even begin…just shutup so you don’t embaress yourself any more!

By Danny | June 18th, 2006 at 5:20 am

Great job Ghana. You are truly showing what African football is all about. How far African football has come in the last decade is quite remarkable. Too bad Ghana and the U.S. can’t both go through. Good luck on the game with my U.S. It should be a marvelous game.

Posted from United States

By Mike Stellar | June 18th, 2006 at 7:10 am

Dude this Jerry guy has not idea what he’s talking about. Ivory Coast and Ghana have no doubt been the most attractive teams to watch along with Argentina. Tha pace and counterattacks are throwing the European teams offgaurd.. It is simply amazing.. I’m just mad that the Ivory Coast couldnt go through at the expense of Holland, they were much better.

Posted from Canada

By Ricky David | June 18th, 2006 at 7:15 am

“Jerry Huber”
I want all positive folks to ignore Jerry Hubber’s comments. Just his last name “Huber” tells you where he comes from. A Nazi family! Get over it Jerry Huber. The world has changed! Enjoy the football and stop this RACISM. Even another Ghanaian, David Odonkor is to play for Germany. Is that not a beautiful thing?

Posted from United States

By JOB | June 18th, 2006 at 7:24 am

Jerry………….dude get a life.

Posted from United States

By Sukumar | June 18th, 2006 at 7:39 am

Congratulations to Ghana.

Could anyone of you please contact the coach or the Ghanian football officials and tell them to lodge a official complaint immediately to FIFA against yellow card shown to Assamoah Gyan. Tell them that he heard a whistle blown from from the public and that’s why he kicked the penalty shot ahead of referee’s permission. Otherwise he will miss the next match.

Also it is important that Ghana must win the next match against USA to be at the top of Group and avoid Brazil in 1/8th final.
Ghana must be better at scoring goals. They threw away chances. Clinical finishing is required.
My best wishes to Ghana.

Posted from Sweden

By UT | June 18th, 2006 at 7:45 am

Jerry, I’d expect a child to write this comment but your an adult that coaches a girl’s team. It shows a level of immaturity on your part. You must be some big “role model” to those children.

What are you talking about ” referees kissing the African teams butts”? If that was so then we would see blowouts from every game they played.

The referees are so sketchy. Franz Beckenbaeur admits that refs are giving too many yellow cards.
That ref in Italy vs USA was a dumb bloke known for his inconsistentcy. He probably won’t every ref a match again. Some refs…

Your only white trash we sadly have in America.

Anyways, I think Ghana is going to beat USA on Thursday. Let’s hope the miracles keep coming.

Posted from United States

By Nana D, United Kingdom | June 18th, 2006 at 10:20 am

Great day for Ghana! Bereaved, but the stars gave me a respite in the midst of my pain! Ayeeeeeekoooo, and thx for selling Ghana in such a massive way!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Nana D | June 18th, 2006 at 10:28 am

No need to comment much on Jerry’s post. Utter rubbish.
Sukumar, you are right. Peter Cech, the Czech GK, said he tried to tell the ref not to give Gyan the card, b’cos someone blew the whistle from the crowd. So unfortunate. But as our retired great boxer Azumah Nelson used to say, as a Ghanaian sportman, ur ref is ur superior performance!

Posted from United Kingdom

By marco | June 18th, 2006 at 10:59 am

i think Ghana have a good squad and will qualify for second round .. against a team like Brazil Ghana would punish them coz there fit and fast … one thing that must be said that wasnt is that Ghana played well and out played a very good Chech team .. this being said Italy destroyed Ghana not letting them have any good shots on goal with Luca Toni being unlucky to score 3 goals .. which shows how good the italian team really is (although as usual played bad against the US - something they alwasy do — play bad against bad teams)

Posted from Australia

By Danny | June 18th, 2006 at 1:58 pm

For me, the italians defended against Ghana and that it was difficult to penetrate their defense, that style of play cost them against the USA

Posted from United Kingdom

By Tom | June 18th, 2006 at 5:33 pm

How did we go from football talk to racist comments? “Jerry Huber” must have invented that name for commenting- His real name must be Adolf hitler Jr.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Zombi | June 20th, 2006 at 12:30 am

I think Jerry Huber needs to grow up and get real. A little education will do if he is ignorant about world football. There are whites who play for Black countries and blacks who play for white countries. If he has something against africa, he should take it out of football because there is no place for that in the beautiful game.

Posted from United Kingdom

By rusle | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:48 am

why GHANA bring and show ISRAELI’s flag?
Were they playing for ISRAEL? it was hurted us!!!

Posted from Indonesia

By Ghanaian | June 24th, 2006 at 6:17 am

Rusle, I understand your disapointment with the Ghana player #15 pansil who play for a Isaeli team that’s why he showe the flag out of ignorance no more. But, apparently the federation and fifa have spoken with him and did not show it again inthe next match. That’s why he did not intend to offend anyone especially his own people. because in this venue you only play for your country and allowed to show only the flag of your country, but he didn’t know that.

Posted from United States

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