S-Curl Accident

So with the 3-0 loss to Brazil, Ghana's miraculous World Cup run is over. I'm dissapointed, but still proud of Ghana because they had a great tourney. Definately the Cinderella of the World Cup. It was their first tourney and they drew the toughest group (Italy, Czech Rep. and America) and they still reached the round of 16.
With regards to the game, I thought that 3-0 doesn't show how close the game was. Abbreviated comments:

• Ghanaian players looked nervous during the anthems and it showed because it took them about 10 minutes to get stuck into the game. Once they started to believe, they controlled the rest of the first half.
• Mensah's header off the corner and the incredulous save from Dida was the turning point of the match. If Dida doesn't get down in time 1-1 is a completely different game.
• Adriano was offsides. 2-0 down at half as opposed to level at 1 is a huge difference.
• The coach (Dukovic) getting tossed outta the stadium at half probably didn't help matters either.
• Ghana's lack of discipline was an issue again. Way too many bookings and wayward challenges. It completely ruined the flow of the game.
• Ghana weren't accurate enough, they had a couple of solid chances, but couldn't put it away.
• The offsides trap didn't work and after the first 2 goals they should have made the adjustments. All three goals were a result of a weak trap. Against a team like Brazil you just can't gamble.
• Kingson, made some big saves at the end that kept the game respectable.
• Brazil are the #1 team in the world, so there's no shame in losing but i think Ghana could have done better. Oh yeah and Michael Essien (their best player) was suspended.

So now that Ghana is on the football map, we can look forward to a number of things:

• Loans/Transfer for Ghanaian players to bigger and better clubs/leagues. A few players that might have proved their worth are Appiah, Dramani and Muntari. Apparently, Appiah is being courted by Rangers (who I can't stand) hopefully Celtic or better yet, Arsenal can pick him up instead.
• African Cup of Nations 2008. Ghana have won this tourney 4 times and they are the hosts for 2008 so maybe they can win one for the thumb.
• South Africa 2010. Ghana have to qualify for the next tourney and prove that this wasn't just a fluke. There are some good countries that didn't make he cut this year who will be hungry (Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal). Ghana will really have to earn their spot. With only 5 spots for the continant, and 1 automatically going to South Africa it will be a hard road.