Germany Australia Ghana Serbia
Ghana's march to the World Cup was not as straightforward as it may have looked and the Black Stars lost two games in the first stage against Libya and Gabon and the three teams all finished on level points.
Fortunately, the final group stage could have been much more difficult than it was and four straight wins against Benin, Mali and Sudan were enough to send Ghana to South Africa and while performances were not as impressive as their status as one of Africa's top teams suggests.
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Ghana v Serbia 13 June; Pretoria
Ghana v Australia 19 June; Rustenburg
Ghana v South Korea 23 June; Johannesburg
Ghana are an unpredictable team. Not short of talent, they don't always get the results that it should. But at the African Nations Cup the Black Stars showed some spirit in reaching the final. Ahead of the continental competition, the West Africans were written off in some quarters after suffering from a number of injuries and a poor start seemed to confirm those concerns.
But the team pulled together, kept things tight and solid and made its way to the final. There may not have been much in the way of swashbuckling football but there was strong defence and an impressive amount of discipline. This young team ended up impressing though it was always going to be tough in a final against Egypt, a talented team desperate to make up for its failure to qualify for the big event in June.
It was a very encouraging performance and the challenge perhaps for the coach is to decide which of the young players that performed so well in Angola will retain their places for when the action begins in June.
Ghana were the best of the African performers in 2006 and the stars from that tournament have now matured and should be at their peak. With the necessary experienced behind them, they have the talent to succeed. Ghana's undoing could be the fact that they lack a top-class striker. Converting chances into goals does not always come easily but it may have to in South Africa. Any success is likely to come courtesy of a strong defence and the inspiration of a couple of their key players.
It is too obvious to say that it is Michael Essien but he is the only choice. The Chelsea man is one of the best midfielders in the world and if Ghana are to get out of their group then Essien needs to be fit, fresh and in form. If he is, then Ghana have one of the potential stars of the World Cup and if Essien gets a chance to play then there is every chance that the team will once again make it out of a tough group, Essien was named as the 2006 African Player of the Year. All of Ghana will be hoping that he is collecting a similar award at the end of this year.
Asamoah Gyan is vital to Ghana. The team is not one that is going to score lots of goals in South Africa but this 24 year-old who plies his trade for Rennes in France has to take his chances.
At the African Nations Cup, Gyan showed just how cool he is in front of goal and that he is a player for the big occasion. Three goals in five games, is a healthy rather than spectacular return but two of those came in 1-0 knockout round wins over Gabon and Nigeria.
He is dangerous in the air and works tirelessly in attack, so much so that it enables the team to stack the midfield. Defenders do not enjoy playing against this awkward customer.
A Serbian led Ghana out of the group stage in 2006 and the federation have selected another, Milovan Rajevac, to attempt to do the same, and maybe more, this summer. A short spell in charge of Red Star Belgrade is as good as his, fairly undistinguished, resume gets. Fans were not too enthusiastic when he was appointed but an encouraging showing from the young team at the African Nations Cup has given the 56 year-old the breathing space that he needs.
2006 Second round
Vying with Australia to get out of the group.
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Won group D in the African qualifying zone.
Ghana have won four African continental titles, though the most
recent was 1982, but have only appeared at the World Cup once before.
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Ghana find themselves in a tough group, one from which any of the four teams could progress. Serbia, Germany and Australia will all be able to cope with Ghana's physical power and speed and there are other groups much more suited to the Black Stars. Playing in Africa will help but this is a bad group for Ghana and it is likely to end with a quick exit.
Goalkeepers Richard Kingston (Wigan, England), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei
(Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah
(Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah
(Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan
Mensah (Granada, Spain)
Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France), Kwadwo Asamoah
(Udinese, Italy), Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Anthony Annan
(Rosenborg, Norway), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Quincy
Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain), Kevin-Prince
Boateng (Portsmouth, England)
Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany), Asamoah Gyan
(Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah
(NAC Breda, Holland)