Yesterday, the Black Stars sealed a comprehensive 4-0 win over South Korea in their final warm-up game in Miami to ensure they leave for Brazil in buoyant mood.
It was a totally dominant win, in which South Korea was outplayed in all aspects of the game and which showcased the ability of the Stars to crush their opposition on their best days. All over the country, the win has rekindled waning optimism over the chances of the team and all of a sudden the Black Stars seem unbeatable in the eyes of many.
There is a tendency to read too much into these friendly games which we must be careful to eschew. Before this game, after the woeful performance in the 1-0 loss to Netherlands, there was also a disproportionate amount of pessimism over the team’s chances. Neither reaction is accurate, as always the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
So what’s the truth? The truth is that this team is immensely talented, particularly across midfield and attack. Even much aligned Jordan Ayew was a hero in the last game, whilst the least experienced call-ups such as Afriyie Acquah, Majeed Warris, Christian Atsu, and Rabiu Mohammed all possess raw ability that cannot be denied. Complement this with the experience of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin Boateng and their like; and you have a team with a balance of youth and experience that can on their best day, go toe to toe with any side in world football.