Coach Kwasi Appiah leads his charges to face South Korea tonight in Miami, in the final World Cup dress rehearsal before the Black Stars leave the American city of Miami tomorrow for Ghana’s base in Natal ahead of the Stars’ opening group game against USA next week.
Three weeks’ training camp in Accra, Arnhem and Miami had afforded Coach Appiah enough time to trim his squad to 23 and smoothen the rough edges, particulalry after the team’s 1-0 loss to The Netherlands in Rotterdam.
There is very little at stake in today’s game at the Sun Life Stadium but it provides an opportunity for the Stars to secure a confidence-boosting win before they move into tournament mode in crime-ridden city of Maceio in Brazil.
The game is equally significant for the Koreans who also need a morale-booser for their Group H campaign where Hong Myung-bo's side have been pooled against Algeria, Belgium and Russia.
Eight years ago when the Black Stars needed a boost for their maiden World Cup campaign, Coach Ratomir Dujkovic inspired his side to defeat the Koreans 3-1 in a warm-up match at the Ester Road Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari who were on target against the Koreans in Edinburgh, will be key actors in Coach Appiah’s quest to qualify out of a difficult group and go past the team’s last accomplishment in South Africa four years ago.
Appiah knows the weight of expectation of Ghanaians back home and around the world, and a good performance against Korea will not only provide a sneak peek into his team’s battle-readiness for the Group G challenge which starts with a June 16 clash with USA at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal and matches later with Germany and Portugal.
Against the Netherlands on May 31, Appiah was hit by a big blow after losing centre-back Jerry Akaminko to injury, in a match which saw him experiment with a mix of youngsters and experienced players, with the pair of Jordan Ayew and Kevin-Prince Boateng deployed in attack as regulars, such as Gyan and Muntari, were rested.
With no major injury worries, except for an initial fitness scare by goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, preparation at the Miami International University grounds should have provided Appiah and his lieutenants with deeper insight into how best to deploy his young guns alongside his veterans to put up an inspiring performance against Korea.
In the last clash between the two sides in Jeonju three years ago, the Koreans ran away 2-1 winners, with Gyan scoring Ghana’s consolation.
