This is Edin Dzeko, the Wolfsburg man linked variously with Arsenal, Manchester (both City and United), Chelsea and ...yes, you get my drift. Ghana play his country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The game would be played in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Strange, I can’t remember the last time we played in someplace like that and we haven’t had any history with them either. Meaning that we have nothing to compare, generally.
But we do know a few things.
They are affectionately called the Lilies or Dragons. They were 2nd in their WC qualifying group for SA 2010. That they have some very good lads: Vedad Ibisevic (has been named Bosnia and Herzegovina's Player of the Year), Edin Dzeko, Elvir Rahimić and a few others. I know we chose them because they may have a similar playing style to Serbia, who'll be our group opponents in South Africa.
The peek
It will be interesting to see how the Serbian coach approaches this one. Would he opt for the defensive tactics that characterized Ghana’s player during Angola 2010? Or would he fashion a fluid attack? Maybe even introduce some new players or he’ll assign new roles to others? That is why this game is so crucial, because it is potentially the only friendly we’ll play before the final World Cup squad for SA is named.
Team News
Richard Kingson is reported not to have taken part in training this morming in Sarajevo. Not sure why but I hope it’s not too serious.
Jonathan Mensah was called in to replace Isaac Vorsah who sustained an injury last weekend. Jonathan Mensah is a solid player as well so I don’t have fears in that area. The 19-year-old centre-back was an unused substitute at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Mensah was a member of Ghana's 2009 Fifa Under-20 World Cup winning team and he is on-loan at Spanish Segunda division side Granada from Udinese.
Yaw Antwi was called in to replace Quincy Owusu Abeyie, who is injured. Yaw Antwi plays in Serbia so it was the most conveneinet short hop. He has not featured for Ghana since CHAN 2009 in Ivory Coast, if my memory serves me right. I know him personally and he’s a very decent chap.
Ghana squad
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson-Daniel Agyei
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, David Addy, Jonathan Mensah, Eric Addo, Lee Arday, Ibrahim Ayew
Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu, Anthony Annan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Dede Ayew, Sulley Muntari, Haminu Draman
Bosnia squad
1. Kenan Hasagic GK Istanbul BB SK,
2. Asmir Begovic GK Stoke City FC
3. Emir Spahic DF Monpellier Herault SC
4. Safet Nadarevic DF FC Eskisehispor
5. Sanel Jahic DF AEK Athens
6. Boris Pandža DF NK Hajduk Split
7. Džemal Berberovic DF FC Denizlispor
8. Zvjezdan Misimovic MF VfL Wolfsburg
9. Samir Muratovic MF SK Sturm Graz
10. Elvir Rahimic MF CSKA Moskva
11. Dario Damjanovic MF FC Kaiserslautern
12. Sejad Salihovic MF TsG Hoffenheim
13. Miralem Pjanic MF FC Olympique Lyon
14. Haris Medunjanin MF FC Valladolid
15. Edin Džeko FW VfL Wolfsburg
16. Zlatan Muslimovic FW PAOK FC
17. Vedad Ibiševic FW TsG Hoffenheim
18. Admir Vladavic FW FC Red Bull Salzburg
19. Ermin Zec FW NK Šibenik
20. Senijad Ibricic MF NK Hajduk Split
Looking forward to it. It's 4:30pm GMT on Metro TV here in Ghana. Sorry, I cant LiveBlog. Work issues.
Till later.
