Brasil 2014: Group G

 By Ebenezer Zor

philipp lahm- germany

This is another group of death whose fate lies in the gods of the tournament.Three times winners in 1972, 1980, 1986, Die Mannschaft "The Team" of Germany  paired in GROUP G with the Os Navegadores (The Navigators) of Portugal who secured third spot in the 1966 world hosted by England, The Black Stars of Ghana and the Yanks from USA. Germany is back in business; their tails firmly up after two successive third place slots eight years ago in both Germany and South Africa respectively. Portugal, a squad as decent and highly experienced will be making the sixth appearances since its first in 1966. With four African titles to their name, The Stars are a side accustomed to life at the top and have the talents, strength in depth, the individual brilliance in key areas and the mental strength require shocking other participating countries. The Yanks of USA third in 1930 edition will be making their tenth appearances and having lost to Ghana in the last two meetings at the world face from the group stages in 2006 and 2010, may seek for vengeance. They will be hoping to go beyond the group phase and progress to even more to the final berth of the tournament.

Group G matches to be honored.

Date       Time          Match 13               Venue

16/6/14 13:00 Germany V Portugal-Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

                                Match 14      

16/6/14 19:00 Ghana V USA - Arena das Dunas, Natal

                               Match 29

21/6/14 16:00 Germany V Ghana - Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

                              Match 30

22/6/14 19:00 USAV Portugal - Arena Amazônia, Manaus

                              Match 45

26/6/14 13:00 USA V Germany- Arena Pernambuco, Recife

                             Match 46

26/6/ 14 13:00 Portugal V Ghana -Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília 

PREDICTION: Having experience far more downs than ups in recent years, the team seems to have finally come together, thanks largely to the astute management of Akwasi Appiah for being the first indigenous to qualify the Black Stars of Ghana to a world cup. The former Captain has given the Black Stars a renewed sense of purpose but the biggest question seem to be whether or not the strikers have enough goals in them to carry Ghana beyond the group stage. Akwasi Appiah now faces the hardest task guiding the country to its successive world cup. How far will USA? Not many will be surprise if they are on the first plane home, but it would be unwise to write them off completely. You can never say Germany is not a contender to win the world cup, but the bottom line is that they will have to play out to their skin to deny both Ghana and Portugal.