Ghana attempts to make African history against Uruguay

Ghana will attempt to become the first African nation to reach the semi final stage in a World Cup and Uruguay will be trying to reach it for the first time since 1970 in their quarterfinal matchup at Johannesburg on July 2.

Ghana ended the group stage in second place in Group G with four points and then beat the USA 2-1 in extra time while Uruguay topped Group A with seven points and then took care of South Korea 2-1.

On the missing player front, Ghana hopes to have midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng back in the lineup after he opened the scoring against the USA in their playoff match. He left that game due to a right leg injury and then missed training the next day. Defender Isaac Vorsah rejoined the squad after being sidelined for a week due to a right leg injury and fellow defenders Samuel Inkoom and John Mensah are also fit after suffering minor injuries. Striker Asamoah Gyan injured his ankle in training on Monday, but should be ready to play.

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However, both defender Jonathan Mensah and midfielder Andre Ayew will miss the game due to suspensions from yellow cards. Sully Muntari will likely start in place of Ayew. Ghana will be relying on Gyan, who has three of the team’s four goals, to remain hot as well as goalkeeper Richard Kingson, who has been superb between the posts so far. If Gyan isn’t fit, Ghana’s chances will be badly reduced.

Defender Mauricio Victorino may have to start for Uruguay in place of Diego Godin if Godin hasn’t recovered from his thigh injury in time. Godin was injured in the match against South Korea and missed training on Monday. Striker Diego Forlan injured a toe in the same match and is expected to play.

Forlan and Luis Suarez has arguably been the best striking tandem in the tournament so far with five goals between them. Suarez leads the way with three. If these two can keep hitting the net and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera continues his fine play, Uruguay will be tough to beat as they’ve only let in one goal in their four games.

Ghana v Uruguay Odds and Predictions

It’ll be interesting to see how Uruguay handles the pure physical strength of the Africans and if they can contain them. Uruguay sat back against South Korea after taking the lead and paid for it as the Koreans evened the score before Uruguay went back to the attack. If they learned a lesson in that game it should help them out here if they get a lead. But Ghana will basically be the ‘home’ team with a whole continent behind them and that should motivate them enough to seize the moment and take a 2-1 win, propelling them into the semi finals.

The teams have never played each other in the past, but Expekt.com has two-time World Cup champions Uruguay listed as favourites to win the game with the odds listed at 23/20. A victory for Ghana is posted at 11/4 and the odds of a draw after 90 minutes are 21/10.

US players find the best odds at BetUS where a win for Ghana pays +285 (3.85)