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Ghana’s players have differing expectations

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Ghana and Fulham defender John PantsilGhana’s players have differing expectations of their side going into the World Cup, but right-back John Pantsil said a semi-final place was within their grasp (Ghana 22/1 to be eliminated in semi-finals).

The Fulham defender told the BBC: “An African country can lift the cup.

“In Germany in 2006 we reached the last 16 but now, with Africa hosting and a stronger squad, I have full confidence of us being in the semi-finals.

“It is a big chance for Africa to achieve,” he added.

Ghana reached the second phase in the 2006 World Cup before being knocked out by Brazil.

“Our group is very tricky but we have to focus on doing better than before,” Pantsil said.

“We are not lacking in any area. We have a good first 11 and a good bench so that will help the team progress to a better level than 2006,” he added.

Pantsil is also looking forward to having the full support of not only his home country Ghana, but the rest of the continent, too.

“All the African countries will get great support from South Africa. African fans will not support one country but will support Africa,” Pantsil said. “In Africa we love football.”

Fellow defender John Mensah, however, has warned against those who think African nations have a World Cup advantage because the tournament is being held in the continent.

Mensah says that Ghana must determine their own fate.

“I’m glad to play in it as it’s the first time the World Cup has come to Africa,” the Lyon defender told The Journal .

“But just because it’s in Africa doesn’t mean an African team is going to win it.

“We don’t need to think that because it’s in Africa we’ll have things our own way. We need to determine that ourselves.”

Sulley Muntari believes his compatriots can reach the World Cup semi-finals despite the absence of injured Michael Essien.

“After what we did in 2006 (when the Africans reached the second phase), expectations are sky-high and we will try to satisfy our supporters by giving it our absolute best shot,” said the Inter Milan star.

Muntari is coming back from injury but still hopes to play a big part in his country’s campaign as they go up against Germany, Serbia and Australia in Group D.

“We want to get out of our group and get to the semi-finals or even further,” said Muntari.

“Germany are the group favourites and so it will doubtless come down to Serbia — we don’t know quite what to expect against them, but we know they are a good team.

“Our goal is to produce good football,” said Muntari, who is coming back from a thigh injury but expects to be fit to feature against the Serbs on Sunday.

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Lippi points to Italian charisma

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Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists he has no problem with pundits dismissing his side ahead of the World Cup (Italy 2/5 to win Group F).

The Italians are seventh-favourites going into the tournament, but that doesn’t worry the 62-year-old.

“Italy has never been amongst the favourites, I don’t remember a World Cup where we’ve been favourites,” Lippi said. “The favourites are rightly Brazil and Spain, but you also have to add other strong teams to the mix.”

“I’ve said it many times before, there’s Brazil, Spain and then five or six other teams, such as England, Holland, Germany, Italy and France, that don’t go just to do well, they go to win and want to win,”  he added.

“Sometimes they manage it and we’ve won it four times. But a World Cup is special, it’s not always technical ability that decides who wins, there are other things,” he added.

The World Cup-winning coach insisted that the Italy team are not an aged and creaking side, as some pundits believe.

“We’re not the oldest team here, there are three or four teams that are older than us,” said the coach.

“We’ve got a good mix, we have nine players from 2006, that’s less than 50 percent,” he said. “But I’ve never seen another team that’s won the last World Cup to turn up with 23 different players the next time. We’ve got old players but age doesn’t mean broken down, it means experience, charisma.”

Lippi also defended his decision to keep AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo in his 23-man squad despite the fact he is suffering from a calf strain.

Pirlo will not be fit before Italy’s third group game but despite bringing along a 24th player, in Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu, Lippi is unwilling to let his playmaker go.

“He’s here because the team doctors said he will be ready by the third game,” said Lippi.

“Over the last few days I have been recovering and I feel less pain,” Pirlo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The situation is encouraging as the lesion has started to heal. I have faith, even though the return will be defined step by step.”

Meanwhile, Mauro Camoranesi resumed training on Thursday for the first time since his knee injury.

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Forlan could earn his Spurs

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Reported suitors Tottenham have been offered encouragement in their bid to sign Uruguay striker Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid to strengthen their squad for a crack at next season’s Champions League and Premier League (Spurs 50/1 – Premier League Outright 2010/2011).

White Hart Lane chief Harry Redknapp has transformed Spurs from relegation candidates to a top-four outfit since he was drafted in to replace Juande Ramos in October 2008.

At the time Ramos had managed to win just two points from the opening eight games of the 2008/09 Premier League season but Redknapp guided the north Londoners to an eighth-placed finish before a four-place improvement last time around.

Spurs will be in the Champions League for the first time next term and although they can boast England World Cup strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in their ranks, the futures of Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane and Russia star Roman Pavlyuchenko are far from secure.

Keane ended last season on loan at Celtic and is wanted back at Parkhead by new Bhoys chief Neil Lennon while Pavlyuchenko, despite hitting some good form towards the end of the 2009/10 season, looks set to move on in search of first-team football.

So Redknapp will need to do some wheeling and dealing in the transfer market which has led to links with former Manchester United forward Forlan who was part of Atletico’s Europa League-winning squad last season.

However, Los Rojiblancos only finished ninth in La Liga last season so cannot offer Forlan Champions League football and, at the age of 31, the South American predator is unlikely to want to spend any time away from Europe’s top table.

Forlan famously took 27 games to break his goalscoring duck for Manchester United after joining the Red Devils in January 2002, but he insists he has not been put off trying his luck in the Premier League at some point in the future.

The former Villarreal star said: “If there is an offer and it’s good for Atletico and good for me I would be really happy to go back to England. But it will have to be good.

“If a big chance to return to England came up, I would have to look at it. I loved my time in English football – the people, the fans, the football, everything.

“I wasn’t sad the way it ended at United to be honest. I was really happy during my time there and thank the people at United for how they treated me.

“During my period there I learnt a lot of things and had a good relationship with everyone. The reason I left was because I didn’t have the chance to play as regularly as I wanted.”

Forlan and Uruguay kick off their World Cup campaign against France on Friday (Forlan 33/1 – To Score A Hat-Trick).

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Donovan plots England upset

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USA's Landon DonovanMidfield ace Landon Donovan says USA go into Saturday’s opening Group C fixture with England believing they can produce something “special” (USA 13/2 England 4/9 draw 16/5 – match betting).

The US are the underdogs in Rustenburg, but Donovan says the squad takes great self-belief into the tournament based on their success at last year’s Confederations Cup, played in South Africa.

America finished runners up in that tournament, having beaten Euro 2008 winners Spain en route (4/6 USA – Group C To Qualify).

Donovan said: “2009 was helpful in that it gives us the belief that we can do something here. Aside from that, that is the past, and so our job now is to focus on the present.

“But we know we have the ability to be special and now the focus is on bringing that out of us every time we play.

“However, we also have to be aware of the the bigger picture in that this is just one of three games which are all equally important.

“We can win on Saturday and not advance to the next round still and we can lose this game and still go through.”

Donovan added: “Last year (in the Confederations Cup) we thought we were out after two games. Then we played well against Egypt and it changed everything. We have to keep the big picture in mind.

“I understand what this game means but there is more to it and we have to be ready to react no matter what happens on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, USA coach Bob Bradley has confirmed that Jozy Altidore will be available for the clash with England.

The striker missed a warm-up game against Australia over the weekend as he recovered from an ankle problem.

However, Bradley said: “The injury cost him a couple of days (training) but, from the start, we knew it was very minor.

“The fact he is back in regular training means he is available for whatever role we choose on Saturday.”

Bradley is also optimistic that key defender Oguchi Onyewu will be able to complete 90 minutes against England if called upon.

Onyewu has just returned to fitness after suffering a patellar tendon injury seven months ago and did not complete any of USA’s three warm-up games.

But Bradley said: “The fitness programme that we have put our players through for the World Cup means all 23 players are ready to play 90 minutes on Saturday if asked.

“It is a credit to our staff and the players because they have worked incredibly hard.”

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Rio reeling from injury hell

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England captain Rio Ferdinand has said the injury which put him out of the World Cup in South Africa was a complete accident (England 3/1 to be Europe’s top team).

Ferdinand, who has been replaced by Steven Gerrard as England skipper, is to return to England after the team’s opening Group C encounter with USA on Saturday (4/9 England 16/5 draw 13/2 USA – match betting).

The incident which ended his World Cup dreams happened at England’s Bafokeng Sports Centre base, during a challenge with striker Emile Heskey.

“It was a complete freak, an accident,” said Ferdinand.

“The ball came in from one of the lads to Emile, I’d gone to try and tackle him from behind – he didn’t actually see me coming – we both went off balance and Emile’s weight went down on my knee.

“It’s no fault of his at all. It’s just a freak accident that could happen at any given time and it had no connection to any previous injuries I’ve had.”

The central defender said he knew even before the scan that he would be forced to miss the tournament.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play in the World Cup even before I got the scan (result) – I was just waiting to get it confirmed,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.

“It’s disappointing, but I’ve come to terms with it now.

“The first night was quite a pretty long night, going over what could’ve been and to not be able to represent your country in the World Cup.

“I was going over scenarios in my head of what could’ve been.

“Leading out your country into a major tournament is the stuff of dreams and it’s taken from under your feet.

“It was a long evening thinking about stuff like that.

“But after that I’ve thought to myself I’ve got to get on with it. There’s a lot more people worse off than I am.

“I’m not dying and it’s not like I’ll never be able to play football again.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to come back, do some good rehab and I’ll be fit and that’s what I’m concentrating on now.”

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Neill eyes Germany result

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Australia captain Lucas Neill says a draw with Germany in their opening World Cup match would be an acceptable result (Germany 1 /2, Australia 6/1, draw 3/1).

The Socceroos star admitted the Germans were a better side overall, and said: “A draw would be a fantastic result. Germany are a superior team to Australia.”

Neill added: “Clearly they are favourites and we have the underdogs tag.

“Their record suggests they are the most consistent team in world football, and the pressure is on them to win.

“Nobody in the world, apart from our team, expects us to beat them.”

The game will be important to Australia’s chances of progressing from Group D in South Africa, says Neil.

“If we draw it means other results can go for us and against us and we’ve still got everything in our own hands,” he said.

“If we manage to win, we will shock the world.”

Midfielder Mark Bresciano was quick to agree with his captain.

“Yes, yes, I would definitely take it (a draw),” he said. “Germany are a very hard team to beat so a draw would be a massive result for us.

“It would be a very positive start, knowing we would then have two games to go (against Ghana and Serbia) to try to scrape a win.

“Getting any result, apart from a loss, would be good.”

Australia coach Pim Verbeek now has to choose his best side to face the Germans, and he may well have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Tim Cahill appears to be over the effects of a neck injury, and Brett Emerton is expected to be fully fit despite a troublesome calf.

Verbeek now has to choose his striking options, whether to give Galatasaray star Harry Kewell the nod or go with Josh Kennedy.

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James sweating on USA start

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David James has played down the fact he has been handed the number one shirt by England coach Fabio Capello for England’s 2010 World Cup campaign (20/1, All 3 English goalkeepers to play during the tournament).

The veteran is fighting it out with West Ham’s Robert Green and Manchester City’s Joe Hart for the honour, with the battle the closest in years as Capello keeps his cards close to his chest.

James, Green and Hart have all been given game time by the Italian ahead of the Group C opener against USA in Rustenburg on Saturday as he keeps everyone guessing and on their toes (England 4/9 to win – 90 Minutes).

And James insists he is paying little attention to the fact he has been handed the number one jersey with Green set to wear 12 and Hart 23.

The former Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City man said: “I genuinely believe England are going to be successful, I want that above everything else. I want to be part of that success so I want to be number one.”

James added in the Daily Mirror: “A long time ago I stopped trying to second-guess people. I get stressed about Portsmouth losing and so I haven’t burdened myself with the extra stress of wondering what’s in the mind of Fabio Capello.

“I don’t think about the numerical position in the squad. It may be that the number one is the fittest and plays, but the idea is that all three are out there, trying their best to be the number one.”

Capello has included Joe Cole, Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon in his ‘first XI’ in terms of numbers and it remains to be seen if the 63-year-old has shown his hand or not.

Cole, who will leave Chelsea this summer, admits he is desperate to start the tournament in England’s side.

He said: “It’s a great feeling being at a World Cup. I love coming away for these tournaments.

“I remember how excited I was for my first World Cup (in 2002). It was new and amazing. I still have that hunger and it would mean the world to me to play against America.

The main thing is that we get the result because the first game of the tournament is so important.”

Ahead of the game, USA coach Bob Bradley insists he has not formulated any rough-house tactics for Wayne Rooney whose temperament was again questioned following his yellow card against the Platinum Stars on Monday in the Three Lions’ final warm-up game (7/2 – Rooney to receive a red card during the tournament).

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England squad want veteran David

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England’s players have told head coach Fabio Capello they want David James (9/1 to win the Yashin Award) to be their goalkeeper for the World Cup.

The 39-year-old Portsmouth player has declared himself fit to face USA in Saturday’s Group C clash in Rustenberg, despite sitting out training this week.

James, who has 50 international caps, is the most experienced of the three keepers Capello has taken to the finals, but he did not feature in Monday-s 3-0 warm-up victory over Platimum Stars – when rivals Joe Hart and Robert Green got 45 minutes each.

Everton keeper Tim Howard (66/1), who will be the USA’s number one choice, says he believes Hart is the best of the three and voted for him in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Team of the Year poll.

But both Howard and James are agreed on the unsuitability of the new Jabulani World Cup football, as are Spain’s Iker Casillas (5/1) and 2006 Yashin Award winner Gianluigi Buffon (6/1).

The former Manchester United shot-stopper Howard believes the current wave of criticism from keepers and strikers alike may only be the tip of the iceberg with the finals due to begin on Friday.

“It’s terrible,” said Howard. “You will hear that a lot next week, next month.

“We are trying to get used to it, trying to read an unreadable situation. Hopefully it’s not going to come back and bite us but you are going to see some crazy things with the ball.

“What does it do? What doesn’t it do, would be a better question.

“It moves all over. If you hit five balls with the same striking motion you wouldn’t get the same result.”

Fans could be forgiven for expecting a goal glut during the finals (5/6 to be over 160.5 goals in Total Number of Goals Scored) with last time’s total of 147 under threat from the Jabulani ball.

“It’s very weird,” Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano said. “All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It’s like it doesn’t want to be kicked: like someone is guiding it……….it’s supernatural.”

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Chelsea announce trio to leave

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Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti will leave Chelsea (13/8f with totesport to win the 2010/11 Premier League title) this summer after failing to agree new terms at Stamford Bridge.

Cole’s contract saga has been the source of much speculation over the last couple of months, with the 28-year-old now due to leave on a free transfer.

The former West Ham man has spent the last seven years at Stamford Bridge, but has found himself struggling for first-team football following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

Cole suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in January 2009 and although he helped the Blues to the 2009/10 title, the form of Florent Malouda saw him spend a large chunk of the season on the bench.

Chelsea were keen to keep the England international but a new deal could not be agreed, with Premier League clubs now queing up for his signature.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who worked with Cole at West Ham, has already expressed an interest while Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked.

The player himself (16/1 to be England’s top World Cup scorer) insists the news will not distract his attentions away from the task in hand for his country at the World Cup.

Cole insisted: “My future will sort itself out. It won’t distract me. It has been going on for a while and it is a story to be told at another time.

“I want to try and do my best for England over the next few weeks.”

Meanwhile, Ballack will also bring to an end his spell with Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Germany captain, who will miss the World Cup through injury, had been optimistic of signing a new deal with the Premier League champions.

Ballack, who said Chelsea were his “first option” was seeking a two-year deal and Chelsea are understood to have been offering a 12-month contract.

His agent, Michael Becker, says the midfielder would have been willing to take a pay cut and admitted he was “completely surprised” by the news.

Belletti leaves Stamford Bridge after three years at the club and will also be available on a free transfer this summer.

The Brazilian, who was omitted from his country’s World Cup squad, is now 33 and has not been offered a new contract with the west London outfit.

Having joined Chelsea from Barcelona, there are early suggestions that the defender could head back to Spain during the close season.

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Burdisso demands winning start

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Argentina defender Nicolas Burdisso has called on his team-mates to secure a win against Nigeria (13/2 to beat Argentina) in their World Cup opener – by any mean necessary.

The South American nation are one of the favourites to win this summer’s tournament, despite a disappointing qualifying campaign which saw them scrape through by the skin of their teeth.

While little is known about how the Albiceleste will perform due to their unpredictable coach Diego Maradona they will certainly expect to make it to the knockout stages of the competition having been drawn alongside Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

They start their World Cup campaign against possibly their toughest opponents in the first round of the tournament, with Nigeria the second favourites to win the group.

The Super Eagles (18/5 top African nation) reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and topped their group in qualifying ahead of Tunisia, Mozambique and Kenya.

However, Nigeria have lost one of their star players to injury since then in the form of midfielder John Obi Mikel and haven’t enjoyed the best build-up to the World Cup, failing to beat Saudi Arabia in one of their warm-up matches.

While Nigeria did beat North Korea (1/8 to finish bottom of Group G) 3-1 in their last friendly match, Argentina will certainly fancy their chances of overcoming their Group B rivals and getting their World Cup off to a flying start.

Burdisso says Argentina need to get off to a winning start and believes it doesn’t matter how they get the victory, just as long as they take all three points.

“I give more value to starting the tournament with a win than to playing well,” he said.

“There is a lot of anxiety and to start with a win would mean a lot to us.

“We must win our first game and although it will be difficult, we have to know that a good result is all that matters.”

In the 2006 World Cup Argentina got their campaign off to a winning start, beating the Ivory Coast 2-1 as they made it out of the ‘group of death’.

The Albiceleste were looking good four years ago until they were knocked on penalties by Germany.

Burdisso says this time around the team won’t get carried away with any media hype surrounding their performances and promises they will be taking it one game at a time.

“There is no question we are candidates to win the tournament,” he added.

“We have very strong players in the team but that doesn’t mean anything.

“We must win our first game and then draw some conclusions.”

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