A loss for either USA or Ghana in this high stakes opener could spell elimination in a group without a weak link.
GHANA
Likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 that boasts a quartet of talented attackers, creative, experienced holders, solid center backs, and an excellent converted wing back.
Kevin Prince Boateng will certainly look to attack Kyle Beckerman, who tackles well but may be outclassed. Boateng's former Shalke 04 teammate Jermaine Jones will most likely provide complementary assistance in a match-up his current teammate is sure to lose.
The Ayew brothers will attack both flanks with Gyan ahead. Gyan has been wasting away (although he did score 29 goals in 26 games) in the Arab Emirates League, but has also been scoring for Ghana of late. He also has a history of big goals and has hurt the USA before.
Their holding midfield duo of Essien and Muntari is past it's prime, but Essien remains a ball-winner and both will be excellent at initiating Ghana's attack.
They will also be charged with slowing down an in-form and obviously-in-his-prime Michael Bradley, which may prove challenging. Mohammed Rabiu, 24, is an interesting option ahead of Muntari because he may create more cover for the back four.
USA
The USA will surely use the 4-4-2 they've been honing which features a clever midfield diamond.
Pushing Bradley to the top of this diamond allows for the USA's best attackers to work together, and could produce goals. His service to both Dempsey and Altidore lately has been both consistent and inspired.
Jermaine Jones, who is arguably the most qualified player in US history given his multiple years of Champion's League football with Schalke, will most likely play a sort of off-centered #8 role as the left point of the diamond. Jones will help hold, but should also be a consistent presence in the attack.
At the right point Bedoya has been the USA's most underwhelming performer in the recent friendlies, occasionally demonstrating the subtlety that is surely the reason Klinsmann selects him, but other times botching promising attacks. Given that his spot is where a certain player who was controversially cut would have played, there's pressure for him to contribute meaningfully, if he is selected ahead of the stronger, simpler, Graham Zusi.
Right-wing back Fabian Johnson will need to check perhaps Ghana's most in-form player in Asamoah, who will line up opposite him as a left back. For Italian champions Juventus--who customarily play a back three--Asamoah is a wide midfield player but is being sacrificed by Ghana's coach, Appiah, presumably to strengthen the back line. He will inevitably scurry up the wing to create chances and to help Ghana maintain possession.
The strength of the US center back tandem remains to be seen, but Besler and Cameron have been gaining confidence during the tune-up friendlies. Cameron (who had a fine season as a right back for Stoke), while playing out of position, is the surer of the two.
POSSIBILITIES
The fact that each team's creator (Bradley and Boateng) seems to have a mismatch in their area of the field could mean that we see goals in this contest. Billed as a one-sided grudge match because Ghana have seen the USA off in both 2010 and in 2006, this is surely going to be a physical contest, and both teams have players who have to be careful not to be sent off. (Both of the Ayew brothers picked up a few red cards a season, and Jermaine Jones--despite his experience--has a temper.)
While Ghana surely has more talent top to bottom, the USA looks increasingly organized and boasts fitness. They also have an emotional advantage because Ghana's historical run in South Africa was buoyed by the support of an entire continent, while the USA will most likely have more supporters in Natal.
If this match isn't gridlocked by fouls and physicality and turns into an open contest, that could eventually play into the USA's hands in terms of fitness, but the quality Ghana have in attack, especially on Asamoah's side, will need to be withstood.
GHANA
Likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 that boasts a quartet of talented attackers, creative, experienced holders, solid center backs, and an excellent converted wing back.
Kevin Prince Boateng will certainly look to attack Kyle Beckerman, who tackles well but may be outclassed. Boateng's former Shalke 04 teammate Jermaine Jones will most likely provide complementary assistance in a match-up his current teammate is sure to lose.
The Ayew brothers will attack both flanks with Gyan ahead. Gyan has been wasting away (although he did score 29 goals in 26 games) in the Arab Emirates League, but has also been scoring for Ghana of late. He also has a history of big goals and has hurt the USA before.
Their holding midfield duo of Essien and Muntari is past it's prime, but Essien remains a ball-winner and both will be excellent at initiating Ghana's attack.
They will also be charged with slowing down an in-form and obviously-in-his-prime Michael Bradley, which may prove challenging. Mohammed Rabiu, 24, is an interesting option ahead of Muntari because he may create more cover for the back four.
USA
The USA will surely use the 4-4-2 they've been honing which features a clever midfield diamond.
Pushing Bradley to the top of this diamond allows for the USA's best attackers to work together, and could produce goals. His service to both Dempsey and Altidore lately has been both consistent and inspired.
Jermaine Jones, who is arguably the most qualified player in US history given his multiple years of Champion's League football with Schalke, will most likely play a sort of off-centered #8 role as the left point of the diamond. Jones will help hold, but should also be a consistent presence in the attack.
At the right point Bedoya has been the USA's most underwhelming performer in the recent friendlies, occasionally demonstrating the subtlety that is surely the reason Klinsmann selects him, but other times botching promising attacks. Given that his spot is where a certain player who was controversially cut would have played, there's pressure for him to contribute meaningfully, if he is selected ahead of the stronger, simpler, Graham Zusi.
Right-wing back Fabian Johnson will need to check perhaps Ghana's most in-form player in Asamoah, who will line up opposite him as a left back. For Italian champions Juventus--who customarily play a back three--Asamoah is a wide midfield player but is being sacrificed by Ghana's coach, Appiah, presumably to strengthen the back line. He will inevitably scurry up the wing to create chances and to help Ghana maintain possession.
The strength of the US center back tandem remains to be seen, but Besler and Cameron have been gaining confidence during the tune-up friendlies. Cameron (who had a fine season as a right back for Stoke), while playing out of position, is the surer of the two.
POSSIBILITIES
The fact that each team's creator (Bradley and Boateng) seems to have a mismatch in their area of the field could mean that we see goals in this contest. Billed as a one-sided grudge match because Ghana have seen the USA off in both 2010 and in 2006, this is surely going to be a physical contest, and both teams have players who have to be careful not to be sent off. (Both of the Ayew brothers picked up a few red cards a season, and Jermaine Jones--despite his experience--has a temper.)
While Ghana surely has more talent top to bottom, the USA looks increasingly organized and boasts fitness. They also have an emotional advantage because Ghana's historical run in South Africa was buoyed by the support of an entire continent, while the USA will most likely have more supporters in Natal.
If this match isn't gridlocked by fouls and physicality and turns into an open contest, that could eventually play into the USA's hands in terms of fitness, but the quality Ghana have in attack, especially on Asamoah's side, will need to be withstood.