The coach of the Ghana national team has explained the reasons why he agreed to leave Michael Essien out of the team for next weeks matches, and says that it was an amicable arrangement.
“As you know with Michael he has had two very serious injuries both with the national team in the last two years. It affected him a lot,” he said.
Ghana carried the last hopes of Africa in the first World Cup in their continent, and the stadium was full of screaming supporters, but Uruguay were still favourites to progress to the next round.
Ghana started slowly and dourly defended in a very tight first half, until in the last kick of the half Sulley Muntari found a way past the Ghana defence to put them in front.
The Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is gutted that he can’t play in tonight’s World Cup QuarterFinal against Uruguay, but says that he is recovering well from his injury, and hopes to be back in time for the start of the new season at Stamford Bridge.
The United States played their hearts out again but this time the last minute winner went against them. It didn’t look good when Ghana went 1-0 up after just five minutes and it was an uphill battle after that.
There were lots of chances from both sides, but the States finally got the equaliser in the second half through a Landon Donovan penalty after Dempsey was scythed down as he closed in on the Ghana goal.
The Germans needed to win to be sure of topping the group, and although they got the three points it was not so easy to break down a talented and strong Ghana side.
Mesut Ozil scored an excellent winning goal and his overall performance deserved the Man of the Match award.
After being destroyed by Germany in their first game, Australia really needed to get something from this match to keep their hopes alive.
With Tim Cahill suspended, Brad Holman was brought in to beef up the midfield, and his selection was perfectly justified when he put the Socceroos 1-0 after just 11 minutes of the game.
Chelsea have received another double injury blow as both John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien are ruled out for the rest of the season.
Mikel was taken off against Spurs with a tear in his knee, and said after the game: “It’s a little tear in the knee meniscus,”
“I won’t play this weekend and the doctors say it will take about three weeks to heal, although there will be no surgery.”
The recently broken story that Arsene Wenger was considering an official complaint over Chelsea’s use of Michael Essien after he was absent for Ghana’s game against Angola, looks like it has run into a dead end.
Wenger was quoted as saying: “Essien didn’t play for Ghana but he still played against us,”
“He was not entitled to do so.”
“We will investigate to see if there has been a breach of the regulations.”
The Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has played the media well by announcing that he is willing to let his African players leave “early”, at the same time as he agreed to let the Ghana doctors come over and assess the injury to Michael Essien.
“Michael had a scan and I think he will be out for between three and four weeks.
The Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was diagnosed as being out for three to four weeks after being taken off during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Apoel, but all he wanted to talk about in his blog was Christmas!
He is bringing his Mum over from Ghana to cook him his favourite Jollof Rice and chicken over Christmas, and he explains how the Ghanaians love to party during the holiday period.
