Don't Lose Hope!

The "Brazil of Africa," Ghana have drawn a hard, hard group in the World Cup next summer. They will fight it out with Italy, USA, and the Czech Republic in the "Group of Death," Group E.

Some might think Group B (England, Paraguay, Trinidad/Tobago, Sweden) or Group C (Argentina, Cote D'Ivoire, Serbia/Montenegro, Netherlands) are harder. In my opinion, this is a lie. Look at it! Italy, USA, the Czechs... All are Top-12 teams: CR is No. 2, USA is No. 8, and Italy is No. 12 in the world. People are going to see Ghana and think the Black Stars are going to swallowed alive by these teams.

OK, if the USA were replaced by Brazil, then it would be harder. In any case, it's a very tough draw, but I'm sure the Ghanaian team is up to the challenge. In fact, Asamoah Gyan (pictured) has been playing in the Serie B in Italy and will return next season to Udinese in the Serie A, which already has the great Ghanaian striker Sulley Ali Muntari. So the Italians are well known to the Ghanaians. As for the US and Czech Republic, we'll just have to see what happens.

At least I get to see the US go down to Ghana... Here are the groups:

Group A: Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador
Group B: England, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden
Group C: Argentina, Cote d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands
Group D: Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal
Group E: Italy, Ghana, USA, Czech Republic
Group F: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Group G: France, Switzerland, Korea Republic, Togo
Group H: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia