by Ryan D Jaeger
Following their shock defeat to Serbia, Germany must beat Ghana if they are
to guarantee themselves a place in the last 16 in South Africa and should
achieve it with the minimum of fuss.
The Germans impressed everybody when routing Australia in their opening match
4-0 but the pressure is now on as a result of their 1-0 loss at the hands of
Raddy Antic's side.
The defeat to Serbia came after Miroslav Klose was dismissed late on in the
second half for two innocuous fouls but, even after the Bayern Munich man saw
red, Germany were the better team and should have little trouble getting the
better of the Black Stars.
Ghana remain the only African team at the finals to have registered a
victory, a 1-0 triumph in their clash with the Serbs thanks to a late Asamoah
Gyan penalty, but they had the chance to all but secure their place in the
second round when the Socceroos had Harry Kewell sent off early on last Saturday
and now need something out of their match against the three-time champions.
I was really disappointed with Ghana's second half performance versus
Australia and, with Germany protecting a proud record of making it to at least
the last eight at every World Cup since 1930, it will be a shock to all if
Joachim Low's men crash out at the group stage.
In Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski, Germany have an
attacking trio capable of unlocking any defence on show at the finals and while
Klose's absence through suspension is a blow they have quality in reserve to
call upon.
It remains to be seen whether Thomas Muller will be given a more central
role, or if Mario Gomez gets the nod in attack, but Germany look a cut above an
inexperienced Ghana side and the 7/5 with 888sport about the Europeans winning
to nil looks terrific value.
I couldn't put anybody off taking the 4/7 with Ladbrokes simply about Germany
getting the job done but they have been rarely troubled at the back so far at
these finals and a clean sheet looks on the cards, too.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks like a star of the future and it will be
disappointing if the Schalke stopper is called into action too often versus a
Ghana attack that has looked fairly limited on the early evidence so far in
South Africa.
2pts Back Germany to win to nil (vs. Ghana) @ 7/5 (888sport)
