Classy Italians put lights out on the Black Stars

THIS is what the World Cup is all about: Italy versus Ghana serving up a compelling game of football on a beautiful summer’s evening in Hanover, against the backdrop of a packed, throbbing stadium splashed with the rainbow colours of the wildly enthusiastic supporters of the team they call the Black Stars.

You couldn’t take your eyes off this one: right from the kick off, it was end to end stuff, with goalmouth action and talking points aplenty, including Luca Toni first missing a sitter and then cracking one off the underside of the crossbar, before Andrea Pirlo finally brought the Italian supporters to their feet in the 40th minute with a shot through a crowded box which found the corner of the net.

But it was hardly one-way traffic. Ghana, prompted by the midfield trio of Appiah, Essien and Muntari, showed they could play it cool and well as hot, one moment stringing the passes together, the next breaking forward with pace and power. Neither were they lacking in physical presence, as a wide open game also offered the detail of some uncompromising and occasionally borderline challenges. But a critical lack of firepower let Ghana down — for all their attacking threat, Gianluigi Buffon only had to make his first big save of the game 10 minutes into the second half when he dived full length to turn away a long ranger from Essien. Soon after, it was the turn of his opposite number Richard Kingston to perform heroics, saving a powerful effort from Simone Perrotta.