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Opinion: What Grant got right against Algeria

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News Opinion: What Grant got right against Algeria
JAN 24, 2015 LISTEN

High risk, high reward
"Asamoah Gyan was not fit coming into the game and he has not trained but he is Asamoah Gyan.... He is one of the greatest, no doubt about this. ..We played well in our first game but the difference today was that we played with Asamoah Gyan."

Avram Grant heaped enormous praise on his star man after his last gasp goal; but he might as well pat himself on the back for reaping the reward of taking the risk to field him.

Gyan has been down with a bout of malaria which forced him to miss the first game which Ghana lost. Grant had a decision to make against Algeria: Play an unfit Gyan or a fully fit alternative?

He chose the former, and his man delivered when it mattered most, keeping Ghana well and truly alive in the tourney.

Ghana was in danger of an early elimination from the tournament, but the man for the big occasion was on hand to ensure that didn't happen, and his coach deserves just the same amount of praise.

Substitute's delight
In preparing tactically for the game, Grant and his team decided that at some point in the game, they would loosen the defensive locks on the team and implement a more attacking approach.

That came on 54 minutes, when defensive midfielder Afryie Acquah was hauled off for Mubarak Wakaso, a more attack-minded midfielder.

Perhaps his positioning before delivering the assist would not have been what Grant had in mind when he sent him out, but what he came up with right after showed exactly why he was introduced into the game.

Wakaso received a pass from Afful deep in the Ghana half, looked up, spotted Gyan setting off and delivered one of the passes of the tournament.

Like we've seen over the years... a left-footed midfielder delivers a long ball to a running Gyan.... you know how it ends.

Back to the basics
Avram Grant switched to a flat back four for the game against Algeria, after implementing a 3-5-2 formation in the loss to Senegal.

Given 3-5-2's limitations when applied without the right personnel, it was perhaps Grants wisest decision on the day to revert to a familiar tactic for such an important match.

The Black Stars were still sloppy in possession, something which needs to be worked on, but switching to a flat four at the back ensured the players were more comfortable and knew what was required of them.

Jonathan Mensah had a better game, a stark contrast to the first against Senegal, with Daniel Amartey, his defensive partner continuing from where he left off; another solid performance.

The lack of creativity in the middle of the park was worrying, and should be addressed by the technical team; on this occasion however, Grant got away with it.

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