Confident Dujkovic says Ghana fairytale can go on
With Michael Essien suspended, Africa’s sole remaining representatives in the tournament face the stiffest of tests as they attempt to reach the last eight in Dortmund today (4pm).
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and company finally appear to be hitting top form, as shown in their recent crushing of Japan.
But, providing his side play their opponents and not their enormous reputations, Dujkovic is confident there are still a few more chapters to be written in Ghana’s World Cup fairytale.
“I am confident we can get a result against Brazil, even without Michael Essien,” said Dujkovic.
“Team spirit and collectiveness are more important to us than any individual and although we recognise the game will be extremely tough for us, I still believe we will reach the semi-finals. The thing we must not do is be intimidated by those yellow shirts.
“My players cannot afford to be standing on the pitch looking at their idols and wondering how they are playing. They have to try and stop them.”
In contrast to his dark mood earlier in the competition, when he was being castigated by his own media, Dujkovic was almost deliriously happy as he looked ahead to the first competitive meeting between the team he dubs the ‘Brazil of Africa’ and the real thing.
Key midfielder Sulley Muntari was more cautious in his assessment of the challenge which awaits.
However, after Essien kept a promise to his room-mate to guide Ghana into the knockout phase when Muntari was banned for the decisive Group E encounter with the US, the 21-year-old feels an overwhelming obligation to return the favour.
“Michael promised me he would get us through against the United States, so I have promised him we will do the job for him,” said Muntari.
“Nothing is impossible. Brazil have world class players, we all know that. But football is a game of chance. On any given day, anyone can be beaten.”
Dujkovic has vowed to send Ghana out to attack. “What is the point just defending our goal,” he said. “Brazil will only score anyway.”
However, he refutes claims from the Brazilian camp that his team are over-physical.
He said: “The statistics probably come from our game against the USA [Ghana conceded 32 fouls] but I tell you this, my team will try and win the ball but they never, ever go out to foul someone and deliberately injure them.”
Even World Player of the Year Ronaldinho believes Brazil need to speed up their game if they are to beat Ghana.
“If we are to play the football we want to play, then we will have to avoid their marking, which means we will have to move the ball quickly. But we are improving with every game we play.”
It had looked as though Robinho might play instead of Adriano but a training ground injury to his thigh might put that plan in doubt.
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