the team should progress in tournament

(A post match analysis by William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Pretoria, South Africa)

Pretoria, June 15, GNA - The lone goal victory by the Black Stars may have placed the team in a better position to make a second historic appearance in the knock-out stages of the 2010 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in South Africa, but not without some few deficiencies.

The victory for obvious reasons, revived the hopes of the continent, at a time when nothing seems to be going right for the four other representatives of Africa in the tournament, including the host nation South Africa.

Though from a lay man's point of view a critical evaluation of the performance of the team points to the striking department as the bane of the team because they lack the cutting edge or the sharpness to hit the back of the net.

Indeed, Ghana would have won the game, even without the 85th minute penalty, if the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Prince Tagoe, Kevin Prince Boateng and lead striker Asamoah Gyan had taken their chances.

The Stars would not have relied on the 85th minute penalty converted by Asamoah Gyan, after Zdravko Kuzmanovic handled a ball in the vital area, and would have gone home with a wider margin, that could have placed them in a better position in Group D.

For now, though the Stars share the same points with Germany, they are trailing the Europeans by three clear goals, which of course makes a significant difference.

Perhaps, coach Milovan Rajevac will need to sharpen the attack of the team before the next game, with the possible presence of Sulley Muntari, whilst counting on a total fitness level for live-wire Kwadwo Asamoah. In addition, workaholic Andre Aryew will have to be more incisive with his crosses on the wings, to complete his excellent performance of being a good tackler and winner of 50-50 balls in all departments. With Coach Rajevac's record as a tactically discipline man, one could count on his ability to sharpen the rough edges of the team before the next game.

But a look at the defence gives a picture of a well organised defence possibly due to the presence of experienced John Mensah and John Painstil at the heart and in the wings of defence respectively. Mensah's presence in defence, gave inexperienced Isaac Vorsah, enough backing and confidence to deliver and the general performance of the two was quite appreciative, though they allowed some penetrations from Serbia's Nikola Pantelic and Aleksander Zigic. Goalkeeper Richard Kingson, who before the tournament came under intense criticism, crowned his 79th cap for the Stars with a spectacular performance.

Celebrating his 32nd birthday on the match day, Kingson, who was hardly tested on the day, stopped two goal-bound shots that could have denied the Stars victory on the day.

Even though the midfield was without star midfielder Michael Essien, it never had adverse effects on the team, as Anthony Annan, who has always partnered the former in Ghana's midfield, was up to the responsibility with a perfect partnership alongside Kevin Prince Boateng. Boateng's role as a holding midfielder with Annan as the hatchet man, whilst Andre Aryew's role on the left side of the midfield provided enough worry for the Serbian defence, especially for Chelsea star Ivanovic. Indeed, the tireless work by the midfield of Boateng, Annan and Aryew was good enough to cut the supplies for the Serbia attack, led by Nikola Pantelic.

It also provided adequate supply for the attack, all of which were wasted by the striking pair of Gyan and Tagoe. Which goes to buttress the argument that a sharpened attack is vital for the Stars' progress to the next stages of the tournament