This match matters to Ghana for a variety of reasons. They have never played England and, as the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence from Great Britain (in 1957), the historic significance is obvious.<\/p>\n
\n
There is also the chance to become the first African team to defeat England, as well as a glistening Wembley shop window for many of their players who will want to join Richard Kingson, John Paintsil, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Gyan in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Yet above all, tonight\u2019s match matters for national pride. The importance of international football in Africa was summed up by Gyan, who paid his own way to Congo-Brazzaville on Sunday even though he was suspended.<\/p>\n
With 20,000 tickets sold for the official away end tonight, no away team at Wembley will have ever have received such support.<\/p>\n
The one burning question, however, was whether there is resentment at England fielding what will largely be their reserve team?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are playing against England but maybe some of the fans are there to see some of the big, big names,\u201d said Gyan, who missed the penalty that would have secured victory over Uruguay in the World Cup quarter-final.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is unfortunate they are not playing. It\u2019s one of those things, I might be disappointed, but those facing Ghana are still in the national side. Maybe they are better than those that are out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goran Stevanovic, Ghana\u2019s Serbian coach, was equally unmoved. \u201cI\u2019m sure they did that because it is a friendly game, if it was an official game they wouldn\u2019t have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are playing against England, not one or two players. The players who start will be the best in England.\u201d<\/p>\n
An exceptional team spirit clearly underpinned Ghana\u2019s success in South Africa. \u201cThe atmosphere in our camp is amazing,\u201d Mensah said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all sing together, African music, songs from our childhood in Ghana. When you join Ghana, you are not an individual, we play as a team. We thank God for what we did at the World Cup. We fought hard and worked hard as a team, we played like brothers. This is the first time Ghana played England so it is very important to us. It will be a historic match because if we win we make history.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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