Meshack Asare about the performance of the national team from Ghana

I was already nicely surprised to see Ghana taking part in the WOrld Cup for the first time and although I had no doubt that Italy would be a rather tough match, I also believed that the Ghana players would feel very proud to be playing against Italy. I am sure that like myself, they are all admirers of the legendary Italian passion, flare and mastery of football.

The Ghana players showed plenty of talent and energy, giving much enjoyment to viewers - I estimate their ball possession in the game close to 60%, which suggests how well they accounted for themselves with competence.

But, like everything else, football too has become highly technical and is not played just by talent and energy anymore. These have to be converted to ‘practical skills.’ This is why despite playing so impressively well midfield and attacking so frequently and brilliantly, the Ghana side failed to breach the Italy defence wall to score a goal. The technical possibilities had to be improvised and tested, but the Ghana players lacked the resources. This view can be demonstrated by comparing how goals were scored in the England v Paraguay and Italy v Ghana matches. The scoring shots by both Beckham of England and Totti of Italy were from similar range and angle, rather deceptive distance for the unaccustomed to take too serious! But with huge amounts of practice, talent is honed into practical skill. The European players have got it and at the time it was required, they had calculated the possibilities and applied it effectively.

However, I also watch football out of a rather scientific interest. We have had football for millions of years and it has saved our lives and sustained us through hard times. Football is hunting, despite all the modern trappings. All the physical and mental aptitudes that our hunter ancestors developed for it and bequeathed us are still required in football today. Physical strength, speed, stamina, agility, cunning, team spirit, trust, reliability, care and finally, bravery and accuracy, these remain the requisites. A side works on the collective purpose of rounding up the quarry, chasing it, driving it into a corner and finishing it off. This is why the side with cunning and better marksmen, always win and the marksmen of the team become the heroes.

Having said that, there is an aesthetic side to football as well. When mind and body work to perfection and a number of people function in smooth harmony with one aim so that they support and complement each other to become one whole even if they are dispersed, this becomes a beautiful work of art and I love to see it. I watch teams like Brazil, France and Germany especially for this, then Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

The teams I try not to miss watching are England, Germany, Ghana, Brazil and France.

Nationality
Ghana - English

Activity
Writer

Fan of?
All Great Footballers; Pele, Maradonna… and great football teams: Brazil, France…

A message, a web site you want to promote (charity…)
Everything that describes human experience in unique and diverse ways is important in that, we are individuals and only see the world as we alone see it. The views of others that see things as we do not see, or even things that we never see, are to be treasured. They help to stretch the range and scope of our own vision and experience and afford us the means to gain awareness and experience of the world of which we otherwise, have only our individual glimpses.

Actuality and Projects
Books for Children and Young People
Promotion of Tolerance
Through Literature; Promotion of Reading.

The greatest match ever seen
The last World Match Final featuring Brazil, also previous World Match Final featuring France.

The first FIFA World Cup you have followed? Your first souvenir or idol in the tournament history?
Over a decade ago when Pele was leading Brazil in a WC Final.

The Fifa World Cup™ match would you have liked to see or to play
The greatest matches indicated above and the final between England and Argentina with Diego Maradona.

Source: WCoffsite