Oh. It’s that game again, Ghana and Brazil, a game that gets everyone riled up in their feelings to think that, the BlackStars might produce a display worthy of the display to upset the odds but sadly it didn’t turn out in that direction.
I, like every other football fan, readied myself through Friday, in order to make it to a viewing centre to catch a glimpse of the game.
When the line-ups popped up on the screen, you could hear a few moans and groans from the fans as to why this and not this player was starting ahead of the other and it was least surprising that the first of the game vindicated them with a number of things needing immediate resolution during the break.
READ: Thomas Partey leaves Ghana Black Stars camp
This game might have been dress rehearsal ahead of the World Cup but from a technical and tactical point of view the team lost out to a rampant, Brazilian side that made a mockery of our boys on the day. It was telling, the key areas from where we lost the battle and I’m sure Otto Addo and his backroom staff have noted a number of things down for possible rectification because this team is miles away from a finished article.
The midfield experiment test of Baba Iddrisu and Ayew clearly lacked pace, creativity, steel, and balance, the absence of Thomas Partey from the game took a toll on how the team played.
In fact, his importance to this side can’t be underestimated by any stretch as the likes of Neymar, Paqueta, and Casmeiro had a field day jollying in our non-existent midfield, which had no clue to what they were tasked to do on the night by the handlers of the team.
The team deployed veterans, Dennis Odoi and Baba Rahman as laterals for the game, supreme gap in quality exposed our lads on several occasions as they found no antidotes to the pace and trickery of Real Madrid superstar, Vinicius Jnr, Neymar da Silva Dos Santos, Raphinha and Lucas Puqueta, who found a pocket of spaces to thrive and create numerous chances for the side,it was a worrying trend through the game.
Afena-Gyan, budding talent and one for the future was tasked with the mantle of leading the lines for the side, he did his bits through the game, pressed when he could but he was no match for the experienced duo of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos but the introduction of Inaki Williams injected some pace and mobility to the way the team played in the second half.
Another area worth pointing out is the team’s lack of awareness, sensitivity, and anticipation in the face of set pieces, out of the three goals that the team racked in, they conceded two from set pieces, which is something that should be worked on moving forward.
Tuesday is a step away from us against Nicaragua, I expect Otto to ring in a number of changes and be bold enough to name a strong line-up and make effective substitutions when it mattes, or else his solitary win in 7 games as head coach of the BlackStars won’t improve anytime soon if he keeps going on this trajectory.
