Soccer News of Tuesday, 22 June 2010

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Defence is priority for Rajevac

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has hinted his first priority in Wednesday’s crucial final Group D encounter against Germany is to ensure Ghana do not concede a goal.

The Black Stars will qualify for the next stage of the competition regardless of the outcome of the result in the Serbia-Australia game if they can avoid defeat, and Rajevac says that permutation will factor heavily in his pre-match preparations.

“We will have to make sure that first we don't concede a goal,” Rajevac tells KickOffGhana.com. “I am not saying we are going to get defensive; of course we will look to score and we will try many possibilities, but the fact is that if we don't concede a goal, if it ends goalless, we are through and that is what I am focused on. I want what is best for Ghana in this situation.”

Ghana have four points after one win and a draw in their opening two games, while Germany go into the game on three points, but with a good goal-difference of plus three after the 4-0 mauling of Australia in their opening group game.

One point will take Ghana to five points and ensure only one of the other three teams can over take them.

Ghana were the only African side to reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and have recorded the continent's only win of this year's competition up till now.