Ghana’s grudge World Cup draw

South Africa 2010.The venue was the Soccer City in Johannesburg.The Black Stars of Ghana  were tied at 2-2 with Uruguay in a quarterfinal slug fest ,then Luis Suarez wrote his name in infamy .Dominic Adiyiah's header was goal bound  when the Ajax striker cleared the ball off the line with his hand.

Asamoah Gyan  missed the resultant penalty as the red carded Suarez celebrated in the tunnel.Ghana had an eternal enemy.His post match comments did not help assuage the  sense of injustice and anger of an entire continent.

“The Hand of God now belongs to me. Mine is the real Hand Of God,” said Suárez. “I made the best save of the tournament. Sometimes in training I play as a goalkeeper so it was worth it. There was no alternative but for me to do that and when they missed the penalty I thought 'It is a miracle and we are alive in the tournament'.

Ghanaian fans  would love nothing better than for fate to play them a kind hand and hand them a group fixture with Uruguay who are in Pot 1.

 
Brazil

You have to be Ghanaian to understand why this is considered a grudge match.It has nothing to do with the fact that Brazil beat the Black Stars comprehensively in 2006 or that Ghana has not beaten the Selecao in a senior game till date.

It will be hard to explain it with a social,cultural or even psychological twinge.So let me just put it plainly;Ghana thinks it is as good as Brazil and welcomes any opportunity to play the Canaries just to prove that.

Ask any Ghanaian football fan and you will hear the tales of how we share the same love for skill and showboating on the pitch.No matter who is the best in the world Brazil represents the ultimate football test for Ghana.

 
U.S.A

This is a one sided grudge.The Americans have it in for Ghana after failing to beat the Black Stars at the last two tournaments.The manner of their loss in the second round in South Africa has strengthened the resolve of the Americans even more.

Even in absentia Ghana has added to the woes of the Americans after the recent 7-3 drubbing of Egypt,coached by the respected american coach Bob Bradley.

Ghana has a snotty attitude towards the Americans,considering them a team beneath their status as a world class outfit but on Friday the Americans will be hoping for  another chance to beat their African nemesis.The American are in Pot 4.

 
Italy

The Azzuri gave Ghana a harsh introduction to the World Cup in 2006,beating the debutant 2-0 on their way to a remarkable triumph in Germany.Ghana wants pay back because the Black Stars have evolved over the years and know Italian football.Several Ghanaian players have made their names in Italy with Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah and Muntari the shining lights. A match between the two teams will bring together friends but what a game it will be even though I have a feeling Italy might just not fancy this game.

For Ghana it will be another opportunity to beat a world class team and also exorcise the pain of its first appearance at the World Cup.

 
England

Aside the Uruguay game,a match against the Three Lions is the one dearest to the heart of the Ghanaian. The English introduced the game to Ghana when it colonized the area it called the Gold Coast and has played Ghana just once ,a 1-1 draw in 2011.

The two countries have a lot in common football wise.An overbearing football press,a thirst for the next big star in  and an inability to win anything of worth in recent memory.Consider this .25,000 Ghanaian fans watched that friendly game at Wembley with almost 15,000 of them travelling from Ghana just to watch the game.I do not know how the English feel about Ghana but let me just warn my readers from that part of the world that Ghana is praying for a group game .

 
Portugal

Call this the Cristiano Ronaldo test.The Portuguese superstar is loved and loathed in equal measure in Ghana.Loathed not for any perceived wrongdoing I must admit but it is just an offshoot of his rivalry with Messi.

The Argentine superstar is humble,talented and a proven winner;traits that are considered quite Ghanaian and then you throw in his Barcelona link and you can understand the affinity.

A match against Portugal will represent a personal test for Ghanaian fans,who like to see a good test at first hand.