American Soccer Now’s Blake Thomsen analyzes the U.S.’s third straight assembly in opposition to arch nemesis Ghana. Right here, you’ll discover tactical breakdowns, movies, and a giant, fats prediction for the competition.
BY
Blake Thomsen
Posted
June 12, 2014
9:28 PM
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WITH THE 2014 WORLD CUP formally underway as we speak, it’s time to key in on the U.S.’s first opponent. Right here is ASN’s tactical preview of spherical three in opposition to the African giants, full with a daring prediction on the finish of the piece.
GHANA OVERVIEW
Ghana went 1-1-0 in its two send-off matches, which consisted of a colorless 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands and a 4-0 romp over South Korea. As with all workforce getting into the World Cup, it’s necessary to not learn an excessive amount of into pre-tournament friendlies, however Ghana’s win over Korea on Monday was a loud reminder of its attacking firepower.
Ghana’s finest XI is beginning to come into focus, and supervisor Kwesi Appiah will doubtless go along with a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid, with Kevin Prince-Boateng floating someplace between a real No. 10 and a complicated central midfield position.
Mohammed Rabiu could substitute Sulley Muntari in central midfield, and Harrison Afful has a slight change of taking part in proper again over Daniel Opare, however aside from that every thing right here needs to be fairly set, barring a shock Michael Essien deployment at heart again, which might carry Rabiu right into a beginning midfield position. The important thing wrinkle is Juventus star Kwadwo Asamoah at left again, who excelled there in opposition to South Korea. He’s considered one of Ghana’s most proficient attackers, however experiences out of Ghana recommend that he will likely be deployed at left again to account for the potent attacking risk of Fabian Johnson.
Ghana is considerably of a urgent workforce that may look to create probabilities by forcing turnovers in the midst of the sphere after which racing ahead with numbers and tempo (assume Ricardo Clark-gate again in 2010). This Asamoah Gyan purpose from Monday’s pleasant in opposition to Korea is one other high-quality instance.
Between Gyan, Prince-Boateng, and the Ayew brothers, Ghana has 4 gamers who thrive on ending off counterattacking probabilities. The mixture of speedy attackers and turnover-forcing central midfielders could make Ghana an attacking juggernaut in the fitting circumstances. Nevertheless, when Ghana is pressured to interrupt down a compact and well-organized protection, it typically struggles to create probabilities. The Netherlands pleasant from early June noticed Ghana handle simply two pictures on the right track in opposition to a well-drilled Dutch facet that was completely happy to take a seat again after grabbing an early purpose.
Given its points breaking down defenses, Ghana typically resorts to lengthy balls excessive or into the channels in direction of Gyan, who’s a power to be reckoned with up entrance. (Few will overlook {that a} lengthy ball excessive to Gyan knocked the U.S. out of the final World Cup.)
Defensively, Ghana will trot out an inexperienced again 4 that has rarely performed collectively—sound acquainted, U.S. nationwide workforce followers? The addition of Asamoah at left again will bolster the again line, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the facet’s weakest hyperlink, particularly within the center. Heart backs John Boye and Jonathan Mensah each endured dreadful campaigns in Ligue 1, so neither is in high type heading into the World Cup. And proper again Opare will not be the steadiest defender, both. There’s a modicum of uncertainty about who will play goalie—Appiah has an odd affinity for the unsteady Fatau Dauda—however it is going to nonetheless in all probability be Adam Kwarasey, who was glorious in opposition to the Netherlands and had a high-quality season in Norway.
The Central Midfield Battle
With Jurgen Klinsmann’s new 4-3-2-1/4-3-1-2/4-mations-don’t-matter that he debuted in opposition to Nigeria, the U.S. successfully performs with 4 heart midfielders and no pure wingers. Such a technique has its flaws (notably lack of wing protection defensively), however in opposition to Ghana, it could possibly be the proper recipe for achievement.
Like Ghana, a lot of the U.S.’s attacking risk will come from pressured turnovers in the midst of the sphere. And with Klinsmann’s new setup, the U.S. will truly take pleasure in a four-three numerical benefit within the center, which may assist the Yanks power extra turnovers than their Ghanaian counterparts. As soon as the U.S. wins the ball, it wants to instantly discover Michael Bradley, who might be almost unimaginable to defend within the open discipline and also can choose a world-class go—as chances are you’ll recall.
If the U.S. doesn’t get the ball to Bradley rapidly sufficient, the Ghanaians’ restoration velocity will enable them to have sufficient defenders behind the ball to include the specter of Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore.
Whatever the numerical benefit, a lot of the midfield battle will nonetheless be determined by who makes fewer errors. Kyle Beckerman was particularly error-prone within the first half in opposition to Nigeria, and such a efficiency will doubtless show deadly if repeated. In the meantime, Jermaine Jones has been comparatively crisp on the ball of late, however he’s nonetheless been recognized to present the ball away too cheaply at instances. With that in thoughts, it would go well with the U.S. midfielders to attempt extra lengthy balls than standard, particularly after receiving the ball from defenders. Given Ghana’s high quality on the counter and tendency to press excessive up the sphere, there’s no want for the U.S. to attempt to play intricately via the center. Doing so will invite pointless stress, and it value the U.S. a quarterfinal place again in South Africa.
It is going to be as much as Dempsey and extra so Altidore to be a nuisance on these lengthy balls—the hanging duo might want to battle extremely arduous to achieve possession and maintain the ball up when lengthy passes are performed towards them. And maybe both or each may even nick a purpose by capitalizing on a mistake from a Ghanaian central defender (Altidore particularly has been in high-quality type by way of inflicting issues for opposing heart backs.) The opposite press-breaking possibility for the U.S. is to make the most of DaMarcus Beasley and Johnson in possession. The 2 fullbacks have to be particularly cautious in possession, although, as a turnover in a harmful space involving Beasley or Johnson may go away the U.S. horribly uncovered.
Elsewhere, anticipate the U.S. to press in a barely totally different manner than Ghana. Whereas the Black Stars will push deep into the U.S. defensive half, the U.S. will doubtless emulate its technique in opposition to Nigeria—enable the opposition to maneuver throughout midfield, then aggressively pounce. Doing so permits the U.S. to reduce the kinds of spacious gaps that Turkey so almost exploited repeatedly again on June 1, nevertheless it nonetheless carries a substantial risk on the counter as soon as the ball is gained. Additionally, staying compact and never urgent too excessive up will likely be important in limiting Ghana’s scoring probabilities. As talked about earlier than, the Black Stars usually lack the creativity to interrupt down well-organized groups that hold their form nicely. Herein lies another excuse why it might not be a foul thought for U.S. midfielders to play their fair proportion of lengthy balls—even failed lengthy passes will enable your complete again eight for the U.S. to get into its defensive form, a form that Ghana could not have the creativity to interrupt down.
It’s price noting that the restricted wing protection defensively within the new setup shouldn’t damage the U.S. too badly, as each Ayew brothers are much more comfy reducing inside, the place Beckerman, Jones, and Alejandro Bedoya (or maybe Graham Zusi) will be capable of help Johnson and Beasley. If Ghana had pure wingers who most popular to take fullbacks on one-on-one, the Christmas tree would have extra vital points. The X-factor right here by way of offering pure width for Ghana is Asamoah, who we’ll assess within the subsequent part.
The U.S.’s Proper Flank, Ghana’s Left
Exterior of the middle of midfield, the U.S. attacking proper facet is the place the sport’s marquee matchup will happen. In Asamoah and Johnson, this facet of the sphere will characteristic two match, quick, and harmful fullbacks who will get at one another all evening, a lot in the identical manner that German Philipp Lahm and Portuguese Fabio Coentrao (see you quickly, guys!) did within the first leg of the Champions League semifinal for Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid.
Johnson is rapidly turning into one of many U.S.’s most necessary gamers, and crucially, considered one of its largest attacking threats.
Given his high quality transferring ahead, Johnson will likely be ordered to rise up the sphere as a lot as attainable, even with the risk that Ghana poses on its attacking left facet. The U.S. should ensure it will get two issues proper to verify each Johnson attacking foray doesn’t turn out to be a scoring alternative for Ghana:
1) Beckerman and Bedoya (and typically even Jones or Bradley) want to verify Johnson’s defensive place is roofed till he could make it again to his spot. The midfield unit did so admirably in opposition to Nigeria, and extra of the identical will likely be wanted in opposition to Ghana.
2) Johnson wants to reduce (learn: fully reduce out) the unfastened giveaways that marred his in any other case glorious efficiency in opposition to Nigeria. If Johnson is making a streaking run and a protracted ball in direction of him is reduce out, the U.S. needs to be high-quality defensively. But when, as typically occurred in opposition to Nigeria, Johnson offers the ball away cheaply within the midst of a methodical buildup during which the U.S. has numbers dedicated up the sphere, the Yanks may simply be caught out.
Offered the U.S. is ready to accomplish these two duties, Johnson will be capable of threaten Ghana along with his dynamic dribbling and top-class passing with out additionally serving as a serious defensive legal responsibility.
However Ghana has a solution for Johnson in Asamoah, who additionally occurs to be the Black Stars’ finest participant. Asamoah performs as a wingback for Juventus, so defensive duties aren’t new to him, and he’s confronted higher attackers than Johnson in his day. Nonetheless, Asamoah will not be flawless defensively. He tends to stray up discipline and in addition isn’t fairly as quick as his American counterpart, so Johnson ought to be capable of discover some attacking pleasure. Maybe the larger problem for Johnson, although, will likely be minimizing Asamoah’s attacking risk on the different finish.
Contemplating Asamoah’s relentlessly foul-drawing dribbling type and his capability to drive into the field, the U.S. wants to verify it does not proceed its current pattern of gifting away penalties. It did not damage the workforce in opposition to Nigeria and Turkey, nevertheless it’s unlikely that conceding penalties will likely be equally unpunished in Brazil.
Like Johnson, Asamoah have a propensity to get ahead each time attainable. Given the important attacking presence of the 2 fullbacks, each groups are prone to work most of their extensive buildup down this flank. It’s attainable that at instances we’ll see some outrageously end-to-end stuff on this sideline, with Johnson breaking ahead when Asamoah loses the ball within the attacking third, and Asamoah doing the identical on the opposite finish when Johnson turns it over.
Don’t be stunned if this sport is set by which of the 2 star fullbacks performs higher. Typical knowledge would recommend Asamoah is the extra doubtless of the bunch to steal the present, however he’s come below criticism in Ghana for traditionally uninspiring performances within the nationwide workforce shirt. Alternatively, in fact, is Johnson, who has sparkled for the U.S. in all three of its pre-tournament friendlies, and in addition for a lot of his U.S. tenure.
U.S. Central Protection
Not like Germany and typically Portugal, Ghana will not be the kind of workforce that may ceaselessly pull heart backs out of place with intelligent passing and motion off the ball. Group between Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler will nonetheless be necessary, however their most necessary process will likely be successful 50-50 challenges in opposition to Gyan. When out of concepts, Ghana will typically merely hoof the ball ahead towards Gyan, who is likely one of the world’s most harmful strikers by way of outmuscling and outpacing opposing heart backs.
For Besler and Cameron, containing Gyan and ready for assistance on balls within the channel will likely be key, whereas assertively coping with balls performed excessive will likely be much more important, as Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra can attest. Besler and Cameron ought to profit from a comparatively deep line, which is able to reduce the area that Gyan can run into—it’s additionally necessary that Tim Howard is able to be a little bit of a sweeper-keeper, which he does nicely for Everton.
Although a extremely necessary job, containing Gyan will likely be removed from the one main process that Cameron and Besler could have. It’s additionally fairly attainable that the 2 might have to point out their one-on-one defending abilities if Ghana is ready to get out and run on their trademark counters down the center of the pitch. One-on-one defending is Cameron’s forte, as he’s nicely accustomed to going through dribblers within the open discipline with all of his proper again expertise for Stoke. Besler is a much less completed one-on-one defender, however he’s nonetheless serviceable and can present a stern check for any Ghanaian who breaks via the midfield. Of Ghana’s two most definitely counterattacking threats, Prince-Boateng has the facility and difficult dribbling abilities (as seen within the golazo beneath), whereas Gyan is extra of a push-and-run-past-defenders form of man (as seen within the above video in opposition to Korea).
The U.S. heart backs’ remaining key process will likely be taking command on set items—the margins on this sport will likely be tight sufficient {that a} set piece purpose may simply swing the sport for whoever scores it. Besler and Cameron have regarded sturdy defensively on set items in current video games, however neither is a large scoring risk, as the 2 have managed only one purpose between them in 44 appearances for the U.S. June 16 could be a wonderful time for considered one of them so as to add a second purpose for the nationwide workforce.
HIGHLY SPECIFIC PREDICTION
The Yanks ought to have realized their lesson by now about making errors in midfield in opposition to Ghana, so anticipate them to duly tighten up and eradicate the expensive errors which have ruined them within the final two World Cups. With out huge counterattacks, Ghana could run out of different attacking concepts, and thus the onus will fall on the U.S. to create one thing, which is able to most definitely originate by way of both Bradley or Johnson. Anticipate a primary half purpose from Dempsey (by way of a Johnson cross), which is able to give the U.S. a lead it is going to take into halftime.
Within the second half, Ghana will likely be in uncharted waters—trailing the U.S. in a World Cup. Pressured to take dangers, the Black Stars will go away gaps for Bradley on the counter, who will discover Altidore for a vital second purpose across the sixty fifth minute.
Gyan will get one again across the eightieth, establishing a painfully nervous end. It would take a giant save from Howard to seal it, however the Yanks ought to have sufficient expertise and tactical self-discipline to prevail, even with Ghana’s slew of harmful subs. The scoreboard, for the third straight time, could have a well-known rating. However this time round, lastly, it’ll be a unique workforce taking dwelling all three factors: U.S. 2, Ghana 1.
OK, your flip. Who’s Ghana’s largest risk? Which American most must step up? What’s going to the ultimate rating be? Blake Thomsen is an ASN contributing editor and can reply to your ideas beneath. And observe him on Twitter already.
