treva
ICC Chairman
Ghana vs Holland LIVE
Welcome to the penultimate day of group matches. Ghana take on Holland in the battle for qualification with only a point needed for both sides.
Holland make four changes from the side that thrashed Costa Rica 4-1. Van der Wiel, Mathijsen and van Bronckhorst are moved to the bench with Marcellis, Boulahrouz and Bouma replacing them at the back. Drenthe is sidelined for Kuyt who will starts on the right.
Ghana have major injury woes as Shilla and Gyan were ruled out for the rest of the tournament after their match with Poland. Not only will Ghana be without those two but the captain John Mensah will be on the bench today due to a leg injury picked up in training. Sulley Muntari still misses out as he plays out the last game of his ban following FIFA's two-match ban for a two footed tackle in Ghana's draw with Costa Rica.
Holland just have the one injury to contend with, that of second-string goalkeeper Michel Vorm who is out for the tournament.
3 mins: We have our first shot on goal, a harmless long range effort from Amoah that flies high and wide.
5 mins: Robben goes down under a challenge from Asamoah. The physio rushes on but Robben is quickly on his feet.
7 mins: Great football by Ghana and it almost results in a goal. Amoah keeps the ball in on the right wing and pulls inside. A quick touch to Barusso offers the chance to shoot and he doesn't turn it down. A good hit but into the side netting.
10 mins: Boy do Ghana look up for this as they run circles round Holland. This time Tagoe hits the final shot but there isn't enough curl on it and the keeper sees it wide.
24 mins: First real chance of the match for Holland and it falls to Kuyt. A ball in by Bouma drops to Kuyt on the edge of the area and he volleys at goal with his left foot. It dips but it's comfortably wide and out for a goal kick.
32 mins: Kingson produces his first save of the afternoon as he denies Kuyt's goal-bound header. Robben set up the break as he starts to get more involved in the game.
45+2 mins: Three minutes of added time go up. Barusso almost takes Ghana into the half one-nil up with another stunning strike. It flies just over but had it be on target Stekelenburg wasn't getting there.
45+3 mins: HALF TIME. A 0-0 score line at half time will please both managers. Ghana have looked more threatening but the quality of Holland's attack is clear to see. In the other game Poland have the lead at half-time thanks to a Blaszczykowski goal.
45 mins: Holland make a change. van Bronckhorst replaces Bouma.
52 mins: That's all Holland's substitutes used with just under 40 minutes left to play. Boulahrouz and van der vaart make way for Mathijsen and Sneijder.
63 mins: Heitenga almost snatches the lead for Holland with a strong header. It flies over the bar but signs that Holland could score at any time, even with Ghana on top.
65 mins: Ghana make their first change. Amoah, who took a knock earlier, is brought off. Ayew takes his place alongside Tagoe.
68 mins: GOAL. I said they looked dangerous and they've scored a goal against the run of play. Kuyt takes it down the right beating Sarpei and putting a low ball into the box. Huntelaar is there to poke it into the bottom corner leaving Kingson with no chance of stopping it. Ghana won't know it but Poland are 3-0 up against Costa Rica. As it stands Poland will make it through on goal difference.
79 mins: Appiah goes close to levelling it at 1-1 only to see his low shot pushed away by Stekelenburg. Only ten minutes plus added time left for Ghana to score.
80 mins: Ghana make a change. Sarpei is replaced by Kingston as they move to a 3-1-3-1-2 formation.
90 mins: Three minutes of added time. It looks like Ghana will be going home despite being the best team in the group in terms of performance. The draw with Costa Rica has cost them dearly.
90+3 mins: FULL TIME. Ghana have lost and because of Poland's comfortable 3-0 win over Costa Rica they are dumped out of the competition. Ghana won't believe it. They have looked excellent in all three games but have lacked conviction. Injuries have hindered them greatly and they will be left rueing what might have been for another four years.
Bert van Marwijk: "You have to feel for Ghana, they played extremely well today. We created some chances and I felt we were always in with a chance of snatching the win whilst it was 0-0. Now we must prepare for the knockout stages."
Milovan Rajevac: "We are devastated. The players gave one hundred percent today and yet they come away with nothing. We outplayed Holland and looked comfortable but the threat was always there and we didn't take care of it. We knew we would need to get a result and we went in with that mind set. I am proud of this team, we have given it our all and just haven't received any luck. But that's football."
Holland make four changes from the side that thrashed Costa Rica 4-1. Van der Wiel, Mathijsen and van Bronckhorst are moved to the bench with Marcellis, Boulahrouz and Bouma replacing them at the back. Drenthe is sidelined for Kuyt who will starts on the right.
Ghana have major injury woes as Shilla and Gyan were ruled out for the rest of the tournament after their match with Poland. Not only will Ghana be without those two but the captain John Mensah will be on the bench today due to a leg injury picked up in training. Sulley Muntari still misses out as he plays out the last game of his ban following FIFA's two-match ban for a two footed tackle in Ghana's draw with Costa Rica.
Holland just have the one injury to contend with, that of second-string goalkeeper Michel Vorm who is out for the tournament.
3 mins: We have our first shot on goal, a harmless long range effort from Amoah that flies high and wide.
5 mins: Robben goes down under a challenge from Asamoah. The physio rushes on but Robben is quickly on his feet.
7 mins: Great football by Ghana and it almost results in a goal. Amoah keeps the ball in on the right wing and pulls inside. A quick touch to Barusso offers the chance to shoot and he doesn't turn it down. A good hit but into the side netting.
10 mins: Boy do Ghana look up for this as they run circles round Holland. This time Tagoe hits the final shot but there isn't enough curl on it and the keeper sees it wide.
24 mins: First real chance of the match for Holland and it falls to Kuyt. A ball in by Bouma drops to Kuyt on the edge of the area and he volleys at goal with his left foot. It dips but it's comfortably wide and out for a goal kick.
32 mins: Kingson produces his first save of the afternoon as he denies Kuyt's goal-bound header. Robben set up the break as he starts to get more involved in the game.
45+2 mins: Three minutes of added time go up. Barusso almost takes Ghana into the half one-nil up with another stunning strike. It flies just over but had it be on target Stekelenburg wasn't getting there.
45+3 mins: HALF TIME. A 0-0 score line at half time will please both managers. Ghana have looked more threatening but the quality of Holland's attack is clear to see. In the other game Poland have the lead at half-time thanks to a Blaszczykowski goal.
45 mins: Holland make a change. van Bronckhorst replaces Bouma.
52 mins: That's all Holland's substitutes used with just under 40 minutes left to play. Boulahrouz and van der vaart make way for Mathijsen and Sneijder.
63 mins: Heitenga almost snatches the lead for Holland with a strong header. It flies over the bar but signs that Holland could score at any time, even with Ghana on top.
65 mins: Ghana make their first change. Amoah, who took a knock earlier, is brought off. Ayew takes his place alongside Tagoe.
68 mins: GOAL. I said they looked dangerous and they've scored a goal against the run of play. Kuyt takes it down the right beating Sarpei and putting a low ball into the box. Huntelaar is there to poke it into the bottom corner leaving Kingson with no chance of stopping it. Ghana won't know it but Poland are 3-0 up against Costa Rica. As it stands Poland will make it through on goal difference.
79 mins: Appiah goes close to levelling it at 1-1 only to see his low shot pushed away by Stekelenburg. Only ten minutes plus added time left for Ghana to score.
80 mins: Ghana make a change. Sarpei is replaced by Kingston as they move to a 3-1-3-1-2 formation.
90 mins: Three minutes of added time. It looks like Ghana will be going home despite being the best team in the group in terms of performance. The draw with Costa Rica has cost them dearly.
90+3 mins: FULL TIME. Ghana have lost and because of Poland's comfortable 3-0 win over Costa Rica they are dumped out of the competition. Ghana won't believe it. They have looked excellent in all three games but have lacked conviction. Injuries have hindered them greatly and they will be left rueing what might have been for another four years.
Bert van Marwijk: "You have to feel for Ghana, they played extremely well today. We created some chances and I felt we were always in with a chance of snatching the win whilst it was 0-0. Now we must prepare for the knockout stages."
Milovan Rajevac: "We are devastated. The players gave one hundred percent today and yet they come away with nothing. We outplayed Holland and looked comfortable but the threat was always there and we didn't take care of it. We knew we would need to get a result and we went in with that mind set. I am proud of this team, we have given it our all and just haven't received any luck. But that's football."
