Ghana

We use the word unlucky because Australia really didn't have anything go their way today and they really did deserve something after that performance and after the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Germany last time out.

For a moment, luck was on their side. Australia were awarded a free kick 28 yards out after 11 minutes and the free kick bounced in front of Kingson and he was unable to pick it up. It dropped kindly for Brett Holman who put it in the goal for 1-0.

I'm really looking forward to this game because it is too difficult to predict and I've no idea what is going to happen. Half of me thinks that Ghana should win and the other half thinks that the Aussies must have enough English in them to be better at football, then I think about the England performance against Algeria last night and break down in tears, so I've stopped thinking 50/50 and I'm thinking Ghana.

Bad news we are afraid if you were hoping Ghana were going to make it through Group D. They really were going to need to be at their best to beat Germany, Australia and Serbia and the news today is that influential Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from a knee injury.

The player hasn't played many games for Chelsea the last couple of seasons but Ghana officials had hoped he would be able to make the World Cup.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has included Kevin-Prince Boateng in his 30 man squad list, although his nationality switch is yet to be finalised by FIFA.

Michael Essien and John Mensah also made it into the list as the final 23 man squad list has to be made from this 30 man list. Bologna’s Stephen Appiah is also named despite the fact that he has not played at club level for a while.

Ghana have confirmed they will play Latvia in Milton Keynes on June 5th, eight days before they play their first World Cup match against Serbia in Pretoria.