SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Ghana hope to carry African hope beyond group stage

Record ID: 455313

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Ghana hope to carry African hope beyond group stage
  • Date: 23rd June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 22, 2010) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** GHANA COACH MILOVAN RAJEVAC AND STRIKER PRINCE TAGOE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) GHANA COACH, MILOVAN RAJEVAC, SAYING: "We have often talked about this, the media created this problem, there isn't a real problem, and even if there had been a problem, it's certainly something that lies behind us. Kevin Prince Boateng will be at his best, he will focus, he will not be provoked, he is a professional, of course they are brothers in life but on the pitch they are not brothers. Boateng will do his best to achieve a good result for his team and I think he will play without any pressure and simply try to play a normal game." JOURNALIST TYPING INTO LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) GHANA COACH, MILOVAN RAJEVAC, SAYING: "Of course there is pressure, but we are happy to be in this position, we have our chances of course, we strongly believe in our team, but the pressure is only before the match, when the match starts we'll try to do our best and we strongly believe in that." OFFICIALS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE GHANA TEAM WARMING UP IN TRAINING GOALKEEPER TRAINING PLAYERS STRETCHING LEGS MIDFIELDER SULLEY MUNTARI STRETCHING CLOSE OF MIDFIELDER KEVIN PRINCE BOATENG STRETCHING RAJEVAC WITH BALLS STRIKER ASAMOAH GYAN JOGGING GHANA TEAM TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1AIZE36NMSY8ERHNQ4LKO42O8
  • Story Text: Ghana are looking to fly the flag for Africa as they prepare to meet a tough German side on Wednesday (June 23) in the final match of World Cup Group D.
    The Black Stars only need a draw to secure qualification from the group after beating Serbia in their opening game and drawing with ten-man Australia.
    Brothers Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng may face each other as opponents as they split their national team loyalty between their Ghanaian father and German mother.
    Kevin-Prince has been vilified by some quarters of the German press after his tackle in Portsmouth colours against Chelsea in the FA Cup final left Michael Ballack out of the tournament with injury.
    Asked whether the player would be feeling extra pressure in the match, coach Milovan Rajevac said:
    "We have often talked about this, the media created this problem, there isn't a real problem, and even if there had been a problem, it's certainly something that lies behind us. Kevin Prince Boateng will be at his best, he will focus, he will not be provoked, he is a professional, of course they are brothers in life but on the pitch they are not brothers. Boateng will do his best to achieve a good result for his team and I think he will play without any pressure and simply try to play a normal game."
    African teams have disappointed in the first World Cup to be held on their continent, with Cameroon the first side out of the tournament and South Africa becoming the first host nation who fail to qualify from the group stages.
    Nigeria were the third African team to bow out, leaving Algeria needing a difficult win to qualify while the Ivory Coast are all but out thanks to Portugal's far superior goal difference.
    Ghana sit top of Group D before the Germany clash and high African expectations will result in greater pressure for the side to make the knockout stage.
    "Of course there is pressure, but we are happy to be in this position, we have our chances of course, we strongly believe in our team, but the pressure is only before the match, when the match starts we'll try to do our best and we strongly believe in that," he added.
    Ghana have failed to score more than one goal per game since their run to the final in the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. The team needed two penalties for their only goals so far against Serbia and Australia.
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