Schalke 04 midfielder Anthony Annan believes Ghana’s World Cup opener against the United States of America on 16 June will be a herculean task for the Black Stars.

This will be their third meeting in the history of the tournament after Ghana won all two previous encounters in Germany and South Africa.

The stakes are high this time round with the Stars and Stripes being boosted by former Germany international and coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Annan admits the Black Stars must dig deep to record a hat-trick of wins over a determined US side in Natal.

“Each team goes to the World Cup based on its strength so every game will be tough,” Annan told GHANASoccernet.com

“But the game against the US will be tough because we have beaten them in the past and because it is the first game of the group.

“We will have to be at our best if we are to beat them, I cannot remember the last time a team beat a country three times on the go in a World Cup.

“We have a good team and I believe we will shine above all teams but I am not down grading any game, for me the toughest game will be the first one and if we get into the winning mood then we are good to go.”

Annan is widely speculated to make the Ghana’s squad to Brazil despite struggling for playing time this season at the Bundesliga outfit.