Football League at World Cup 2010: Update 5

The last eight of the first World Cup in Africa featured one country from the host continent. That was Ghana - who also happened to be the last remaining country to feature a Football League player.

We've been following the Black Stars from the group stages right through to Friday's quarter final game against Uruguay.

Could Ghana become the first ever African team to reach the semis of a World Cup? Or, like Cameroon and Senegal before them, would they find this stage one game too far?

Standing in their way were the two-times winners Uruguay - who had been another of the surprise packages of the tournament to date.

.....

Uruguay v Ghana
Friday July 2, 20:30, Johannesburg

With a passionate home crowd roaring them on at Soccer City, Ghana went into the game buoyant about their chances of making African footballing history.

However, it was the South American side who began the stronger, as they sought an opening goal. Twice they were denied by keeper Richard Kingson though.

First, he saved a corner that had deflected off John Mensah and then he athletically tipped over a rising drive from Luis Suarez.

Despite those early chances, the Ghanaians began to grow into the game. Isaac Vorsah went close with a header, then a storming run from Kevin Prince-Boateng ended with his centre being narrowly directed wide by Asamoah Gyan.

Ghana were now on top and, despite Prince-Boateng missing with an overhead kick, they took the lead in first half stoppage time.

Sulley Muntari's spectacular long range drive deceived Fernando Muslera in the Uruguayan goal and sent the majority of the 84,000 crowd wild.

Sulley Muntari's goal gave Ghana a first half advantage over Uruguay

With their World Cup future in doubt, Uruguay began the second half intent on getting back on level terms. They didn't have to wait long to get back into the game either.

Diego Forlan's free kick from the left hand side of the box was whipped in with pace past Kingson - who misjudged the flight of the ball.

The game began to open up, as both sides looked to get a second. Gyan went close for Ghana - forcing Muslera into a smart stop down to his right.

Suarez should then have done better for Uruguay when, with the goal at his mercy, he could only volley a Forlan cross from the left wide. He was then denied again by Kingson with a drive at the near post.

Kingson could only grasp at air as Forlan's free kick levelled the score

However, neither side could make the breakthrough and, as with their match against the United States in the last round, Ghana were forced into an extra thirty minutes.

And, with their opponents visibly tiring, the African side forced the issue - looking for the goal which would take them through. Gyan was again making himself a nuisance for the Uruguayan defence, and he sent a header wide.

Then Prince-Boateng could only head wide at the near post after a long throw had caused trouble in the box.

With seconds remaining - and a shoot out looming - Ghana were presented with a golden opportunity to seal their place in the semis.

Uruguay failed to deal with a dubious free kick and, after a melee in the box, a header was parried off the line by the hand of Suarez. The ref had no hesitation in dismissing the Uruguayan and awarding the Black Stars the penalty.

Up stepped Gyan - who had converted two spot kicks in the group stage - but his penalty ricocheted off the top of the bar and out. It was the final kick of the match - and signalled a penalty shoot would be required to separate the teams.

Asamoah Gyan's penalty was the chance to make African football history

After both sides have coverted their opening two spot kicks, Andres Scotti made it 3-2 to Uruguay. Ghana's John Mensah then sent a tame penalty comfortably into the arms of Muslera.

That advantage appeared to have been squandered as Maxi Pereira blazed their next effort well over, but Muslera was again the hero for Uruguay as he saved Dominic Adiyiah's spot kick.

That presented Sebastian Abreu with the opportunity of sending Uruguay through to their first semi final since 1970 - and ending Africa's interest in their own World Cup.

He duly did. Showing incredible nerve, his chipped penalty down the middle of the goal left Kingson stranded and sent La Celeste through to face Holland in Cape Town.

For Ghana, and Africa, their World Cup - and with it a chance to make history - was over.

Abreu's audacious spot kick sealed Uruguay's place in the semi finals

Final score: Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 AET (Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties)


We'll have a review of the tournament for all our teams later in the week.

Up To The Mark

After an incredible few weeks at Darlington, Nobes explains why the Quakers might emerge the winners after their very own managerial merry-go-round.

New boss Mark Cooper enjoyed success in the Conference with Kettering

Three managers in thirteen days. It's the kind of record which even QPR would do well to match. Mark Cooper's appointment on a one year deal as Darlington boss brought to an end a turbulent last couple of weeks for the North East club.

Dismally relegated from the Football League at the end of last season, the Quakers were bidding to return to the big time at the first time of asking.

However, they were rocked with the sudden resignation of manager Simon Davey - who had only joined the club in March - via an email he sent from the USA.

Not so much jilted at the altar, Davey's departure was the equivalent of being dumped by text.

At the time, the former Barnsley boss cited "personal reasons" as why he left Darlo. Ten days later though, and after claiming he had been offered a role to work in the States, he turned up at League Two Hereford.

Darlington acted swiftly - appointing Davey's long time friend and assistant, Ryan Kidd, to the top job. Less than a fortnight later, and Kidd resigned his post.

Now Copper has been left to pick up the pieces of the chaos that has reigned at a club that has endured a miserable twelve months.

The Quakers came close to going out of business altogether last summer, and then boss Colin Todd was forced to construct a squad with just a couple of weeks left before the season's kick off.

He was swiftly replaced by Steve Staunton - with Darlo struggling at the foot of League Two and staring relegation in the face. It was a fight Staunton never looked like winning, and he was eventually dismissed.

Now, back in the Non Leagues for the first time in 20 years, Darlington will hope Cooper will be able to bring some much needed stability - as well as results on the pitch.

Ironically, even after the tumultuous month at their impressive Arena ground, Cooper's arrival may actually be the golden sky after a long and depressing storm.

Simon Davey's reign as Darlington manager lasted for just 77 days

His record in the Conference is impressive. In his first job, at Tamworth, he managed to keep the Lambs in the division, as well as earning them good revenue from an impressive FA Cup run.

He next turned up at Kettering Town, where he led the Kettles to the Conference North title in his first season. An 8th placed finish on their return to Non League's top flight - as well as another good cup run - cemented his good work.

A strong start to last season eventually saw him poached by Championship side Peterborough. It proved too big a leap, too soon though - a fact the 41-year-old now recognises himself. He was sacked after less than three months.

Now he has a chance to rebuild his career and restore his reputation as one of the most talented young managers in the lower divisions though. His drive and ambition will match that of Darlington's.

He will also, after the way he was treated at Posh, be unlikely to jump ship if the opportunity was to arise. A bit of loyalty can be mutually beneficial to both Darlington and Cooper's futures.

Indeed, so keen was Cooper to get the chance to manage Darlo, he immediately contacted chairman Raj Singh about the vacancy following Kidd's resignation. Fans will hope he will be similarly quick in turning around their side's fortunes.

It could be argued too that, despite a promising end to the previous campaign under Davey, the man at the helm now is better placed to achieve success than either of his two immediate predecessors.

Davey's only managerial experience before joining Darlington was in the Championship, and he has no knowledge of the Conference. Unlike Cooper, too, he has never won a promotion in his managerial career.

Kidd had never been a manager in his own right, and was more suited to being Davey's assistant. It would be no surprise if he eventually turns up at Hereford alongside his friend.

For a club who have had such upheaval over the summer, it could be argued, therefore, that the Quakers have landed on their feet with appointing Cooper.

The only brief tenure they want now is their time in the Conference.

Drawing the Boundaries

With Oldham's new boss Paul Dickov wishing to combine his managerial duties with still playing, Nobes considers the lost role of the player-manager.

Dickov has been given his managerial breakthrough at League One Oldham

It would seem unthinkable now, but a quarter of a century ago, the English League and Cup double had just been won by a player-manager - Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish.

Now, Dalglish was no ordinary player, or indeed no slouch in the dugout either. However, he managed to combine both roles to great effect on Merseyside.

The thought of one of the biggest clubs in the country utilising a similar set-up in the 21st century takes a giant leap of the imagination. However, why not in the lower divisions?

That's what Oldham Athletic's new boss, Paul Dickov, intends to do. The former Manchester City and Leicester player's appointment at Boundary Park raised some eyebrows when it was confirmed this month.

Even more brows were furrowed when he announced his intention to continue playing - when he could.

Not that Dickov, at 37, should be contemplating hanging up his boots. He was still putting in performances and scoring for Derby in the Championship last season. Why shouldn't he able to perform at a lower level?

Nor is it a surprise that Oldham, a club who have a tradition of giving untried managers a chance - as well as firing them readily - have opted for the Scot to fill their managerial vacancy.

However, combining both roles these days is a rarity. Last season, Yeovil's Terry Skiverton was the only official player-manager in the Football League.

However, fitness problems dictated he ultimately didn't turn out for the Glovers, and he has now opted to focus purely on the management side at Huish Park and retire from playing.

Other players who have been appointed managers have decided, there and then, to give up playing the game.

Darren Ferguson, when moving from a player at Wrexham to manager at Peterborough, registered as a player - but never made an appearance for Posh. He chose, with great success, to focus purely on life in the dugout.

While his responsibilities off the pitch will be great, Dickov still hopes to take to the field of play himself though - and make a good go of it.

There are plenty of examples of player-managers in the lower divisions in recent years too. Paul Simpson, first at Rochdale and then at Carlisle, combined both roles.

It was notable, however, that his success as a manager was almost directly linked to the less time he spent on the pitch. Being fired by Dale after one season was followed by successive promotions in Cumbria.

In his first spell in charge at Gillingham, Andy Hessenthaler was a player-manager - taking the Gills to progressively improving Championship finishes of 13th, 12th, and 11th in his first three years.

Ultimately, things went wrong for Hessenthaler, although it would be harsh to suggest it was rooted in his desire to continue playing as well as coaching.

Darren Ferguson decided not to play as well as manage at Peterborough

It is a surprise, too, that in tight financial times that more clubs don't consider cutting their cloth and looking to combine two roles in one.

When Bury were suffering huge financial worries at the beginning of the new Millennium, they could at least count themselves fortunate that, in Andy Preece, they had a player-manager more than capable of fulfilling both roles effectively.

The reality is though that, when manager's jobs are even more demanding than ever, trying to multi-task will, inevitably, lead to difficulties in one area, if not both.

As well as trying to coach on the training ground and conduct deals in the transfer market, the manager has a whole host of other commitments - not least satisfying the demands of the media.

It's why so many clubs have tested the Director of Football model, trying to relieve the burden on their manager and help him focus on simply preparing his team. Appointing a player-manager simply wouldn't fit in with these days of micro-management.

The days of the likes of Gordon Strachan successively doing both jobs at Coventry or Jan Molby taking Swansea to the League Two play-off final while still playing seem to be over.

Instead, chairmen will point to the less successful experiences of Paul Merson at Walsall, Keith Curle at Mansfield, Brian Tinnion at Bristol City, and Steve Claridge at Portsmouth.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty is not just the workload, but trying to define just what it takes to perform such a dual-role.

How does the player-manager establish the line between his camaraderie with his teammates and his seniority as the man who decides whether they play or not?

If he can do it successfully, then a harmonious relationship should ensue. If not, then his reign will be a short and unsuccessful one.

Managers, let alone those who play as well, have trouble trying to find the balance between being too pally and too close to the players and being too cold and distant.

That's before we even raise the issue of what happens when it comes to selecting himself to play. Does the player-manager drop himself, or will his pride prevent him seeing he would be better off remaining in the technical area?

Ironically, in that respect, despite still crossing that white line every Saturday afternoon too, the player-manager is in as great a danger of losing the dressing room as someone who focuses purely on management.

This is the challenge that awaits Dickov as he embarks on a new chapter in his football career. The new man at Boundary Park has boundaries of his own to establish.