Postcards Home
Brazil 1 Croatia 0, 13/6/06
Brazil 2 Australia 0, 18/6/06
Brazil 4 Japan 1, 22/6/06
Brazil 3 Ghana 0, 27/6/06
Brazil 0 France 1, 01/7/06
Read the postcards from the qualification games
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BRAZIL 3 GHANA 0 27/6/06
By Chris Marks
First Half
The nature of this fixture meant it was no surprise to see that when the Brazilians entered the pitch for their pre-match warm-up, the waiting Ghanaians stood and admired the five-times world champions as they arrived. The country with whom Parreira started his coaching career back in the late 1960s have come a long way since then, and should perhaps not have looked so enviously at their opponents. Having beaten the Czech Republic and the USA, they were in good shape for this game against a Brazil side who have only impressed in fits and starts.
Ghana seemed to be in awe of Brazil when the match started too. There was barely one minute on the clock when Ronaldinho chipped over the Africans’ defence to release Ronaldo, who was perhaps unlucky to have been flagged offside. The rejuvenated Real Madrid striker did not have to wait long to score the goal he was waiting for. On five minutes, Kaká shuffled in midfield, then slipped the ball beyond the Ghanaian defence, finding him in 30 yards of space. The three-times World Player of the Year gave one of his famous step-overs, rounded Kingson and tapped in to become the highest goalscorer in World Cup history.
Ratomir Dujkovic’s side were defending criminally high up the pitch, and looked set to be exposed time and time again by the clever passing and quick running of Brazil’s forwards. After just twelve minutes, Zé Roberto pushed the ball through the backline, this time releasing Adriano. The Inter frontman rounded Kingson, but having overrun the ball, elected to dive rather than push the ball sideways to Ronaldo, who was completely unmarked. Adriano was rightly booked for his efforts.
But Ghana had not given up. They began to fight back and even get a hold on the game as they searched for an equaliser. Their first effort, a long-range drive from Draman, was comfortably tipped over by Dida, but there was more to come. The lively Muntari, playing a free role and frequently straying from his left flank, slipped in Asamoah Gyan, who turned his marker and shot just wide from the edge of the area. Five minutes later, Gyan again was the man who benefited from poor Brazilian defending, but scuffed his shot straight at Dida.
At this point, Ghana were actually outpossessing the world champions. A cross from Addo found Gyan again, but this time he shot over after beating his man. On 37, Juan was booked for a late tackle on Addo. Appiah’s free-kick went over, but Brazil were struggling. However, they always looked dangerous on the break. Right on half-time, they extended their lead. Lúcio strode forwards from defence, and found Kaká on the right. He advanced on goal before slipping the ball to the overlapping Cafu. The captain’s cross was deflected, and then put in with the knee of Adriano for Brazil’s 200th goal in World Cup finals matches. Unfortunately for the Ghanaians, the Inter man was offside when the ball was played, and the Africans had every right to feel slightly hard done by when the teams went in as the whistle sounded moments later.
Second Half
Parreira responded to Ghana’s pressure by making a change at half-time. Émerson had been carrying an injury since midway through the first half, and was replaced by the arguably more mobile Gilberto Silva. However, the Ghanaian attacks continued. Amoah, set free by Gyan, strangely elected to pass to his right rather than trying for goal. The onrushing Draman’s shot was well over the goal, wasting on of the Africans’ best chances so far.
Brazil’s first response almost brought a third goal. Ronaldinho combined well with Kaká before the number ten set Roberto Carlos away in the area. The 33-year-old wingback could only toe-poke straight at Kingson, however. On the hour, both teams made a substitution, both indicating their mentalities from here on in. Whereas Ghana brought on attacking midfielder Derek Asamoah for Oddo, Brazil brought off second goalscorer Adriano for midfielder Juninho Pernambucano. This left Ronaldo on his own up front, with three attacking midfielders behind him.
The champions seemed to settle for keeping possession and hitting Ghana on the break. This allowed the Africans onto them, and a succession of chances followed. Gyan stretched Dida to his left, but the Brazilian keeper reacted well to smother the rebound from the on-rushing Amoah. Muntari shot over when well placed, and then Gyan’s next effort was straight at Dida, all in the space of three minutes. Indeed, Brazil’s best effort in this spell came from a Ghanaian defender, as Pantsil almost headed Juninho’s cross past his own keeper. Kingson recovered to save well.
Sadly, the Black Stars’ challenge faded when Gyan was sent off for diving in the area. Juan did not touch the striker, who received a second booking from Slovak referee Lubos Michel. Kaká got a well-deserved rest as he was substituted by Ricardinho, who immediately set up the third goal. The Corinthians midfielder chipped over Ghana’s flat-footed defence, and yet again a yellow-shirted player was clear on goal. This time it was Zé Roberto who was the beneficiary, and he flicked the ball over Kingson before running it into the empty net.
The white-shirted Africans pushed forward gamely again and again, but in truth the match was over. There could and perhaps been more goals for Brazil, as Kingson at to save down to his right to deny Ronaldo. As time ran out, Cafu found himself unmarked in the area, but couldn’t quite chip the keeper. With the last attack of the match, Ricardinho backheeled for Juan, but the Leverkusen stopper was denied by Kingson.
Overall, this was a victory for Brazil’s counter-attacking football. They defended reasonably well, and looked comfortable in possession. Without doubt they could have extended their lead, but seemed to play within themselves and preserve energy for the challenges ahead. Whether they meet France or Spain in the quarter-final, they will have to raise their game to make progress, but today’s performance suggested they are more than capable of this.
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