World Cup 2010: Ghana

World Cup 2010: GHANA

FIFA ranking: 31

Overall World Cup record: 2-2-0

Coach: Milovan Rajevac

Best performance: Second round, 2006

Overview: Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien helped power the Black Stars into the second round of the 2006 World Cup, ousting the U.S. along the way, and it will be Essien who will be leading the charge again. Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari could also be an influential figure, assuming he can patch up his rocky relationship with Rajevac. Ghana is trying to get the nationality of former German youth international Kevin-Prince Boateng switched in time for him to play in the World Cup.

-- Grahame L. Jones