Ghana's Gung Ho Attitude Not Enough

Italy vs Ghana
Hannover

Italy and Ghana, having watched the Czech Republic cruise to a three goal win over the USA earlier, will both know that a draw here will not be enough; although a point against Italy might please Ghana, on their first-time World Cup Finals appearance.

Ghana kicked-off and showed that they could pass the ball around as good as the Italians.

With Francesco Totti sitting in behind Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino, the Italians seemed to have a narrow midfield and that was being taken advantage of by Emmanuel Pappoe.

Then in the twelfth minute, Andrea Pirlo started a move on the right which eventually moved into Toni. Having missed the chance in the middle of the area, Gilardino was in position at the far post to try again for Italy; shooting underneath Richard Kingston, who had narrowed the angle, and hit the outside of the post.

Again for Italy, Luca Toni exploded out of nowhere in the 27th minute, headed the ball past the last Ghana defender, Samuel Kuffour, and lashed a fierce shot onto the bar.

Gung ho Ghana were always quick to reply, even tackling Italian defenders.
Gianluigi Buffon puffed a sigh of relief just before the half-hour, as Asamoah Gyan thundered a shot past his nose and just wide of the post.

Essien was the next for Ghana. Then Pappoe came forward again, but got a little excited and blasted the ball over the Italian bar.

End to end stuff, with Ghana matching the more experience Italians.
Luca Toni's next run down the left earned Italy a crucial corner, five minutes before half-time. Totti surprised everyone in the area by passing it short to Pirlo, on the corner of the penalty area. The AC Milan midfielder moved the ball on a touch, saw everyone in the box was still flat-footed, then unleashed a drive through a crowded penalty area; with the goalkeeper totally unsighted.

Half-time: (1:0).

Ghana started the second-half looking a little vulnerable at the back as a vissionary pass from Totti, in a deep position, released Gilardino; with Toni on his left. Gilardino, who maybe didn't see Toni coming into space, was thwarted by Kingston's feet.

Then a couple of minutes later, Essien forced a flying save from Buffon.
Samuel Kuffour was lucky not to get a red card, with some fifteen minutes to go, for pulling down Vincenzo Iaquinta on the edge of the area; because the flag was up for offside.

After going off on a stretcher Iaquinta returned to make the best of Kuffour's soft back-pass, get into the penalty area ahead of John Mensah and round Richard Kingston; to score Italy's second and make the three points safe.

Ghana had their moments and might feel unlucky not to get a penalty (two 50-50 decisions went against them) but they lost concentration at times and Italy did what we expected really, especially with Ghana forced to push forward.

Final Score:
Italy 2 - Ghana 0

Teams
Italy: (Captain Fabio Cannavaro)
1 Gianluigi Buffon; 2 Cristian Zaccardo, 3 Fabio Grosso, 5 Fabio Cannavaro, 13 Alessandro Nesta; 4 Daniele De Rossi, 10 Francesco Totti, 20 Simone Perrotta, 21 Andrea Pirlo; 9 Luca Toni, 11 Alberto Gilardino.

Ghana: (Captain Stephen Appiah)
22 Richard Kingston; 4 Samuel Kuffour, 5 John Mensah, 6 Emmanuel Pappoe, 15 John Pantsil; 8 Michael Essien, 10 Stephen Appiah, 11 Sulley Muntari, 18 Eric Addo; 3 Asamoah Gyan, 14 Matthew Amoah.

Referee:
Carlos Simon (Brazil)