Ghana coach Dujkovic: Brazil hold no fear
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Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic says his Black Stars will run Brazil ragged today.
Dujkovic insists Brazil are going the same way as the Czech Republic and United States - home. Dujkovic declared: "We are not afraid of Brazil.
"They are the best team in the world and it is an honour to play them but our target is the semi-final.
"Any team which faces the Black Stars will have to suffer. Just like our group rivals Italy, the Czechs and the United States, Brazil will also suffer.
"In Ghana, I can imagine what is happening in the streets, in the restaurants - everywhere they are celebrating. I am proud to make all the Ghanaians - 20 million of them - happy now."
Ghana have stocked up on confidence following their shock 2-0 win over the fancied Czechs last week.
Dujkovic said: "For every team Brazil is the greatest challenge. But we have to focus on our own strengths and not worry about them.
"We just have to treat this game like any other. Brazil have more quality of course, and more experience, but anything can happen in football.
"We have seen that over the years. Shocks can and do occur. It's always tough against strong teams, especially for debutants.
"I'm always telling them it's 11-on-11 and the ball is in the middle.
"It's very difficult to stop all the stars from Brazil.
"We have to prepare a strategy to stop them and how to score some goals."
Midfielder Stephen Appiah, 25, has a strategy - insisting Ghana are ready to lay their bodies on the line.
The Fenerbahce star said: "The guys are ready to die for the nation.
"All Africans are looking for us to do extraordinary things - to go far. That's why we're here, to make our country and Africa proud.
"We're a good team and people are beginning to notice that. Maybe before, 20,000 people knew us.
"Now there are lots of flags of Ghana. We don't feel extra pressure. We're cool and we're ready.
"The most important thing is we are ready to play any team we might face."
Dujkovic insists Brazil are going the same way as the Czech Republic and United States - home. Dujkovic declared: "We are not afraid of Brazil.
"They are the best team in the world and it is an honour to play them but our target is the semi-final.
"Any team which faces the Black Stars will have to suffer. Just like our group rivals Italy, the Czechs and the United States, Brazil will also suffer.
"In Ghana, I can imagine what is happening in the streets, in the restaurants - everywhere they are celebrating. I am proud to make all the Ghanaians - 20 million of them - happy now."
Ghana have stocked up on confidence following their shock 2-0 win over the fancied Czechs last week.
Dujkovic said: "For every team Brazil is the greatest challenge. But we have to focus on our own strengths and not worry about them.
"We just have to treat this game like any other. Brazil have more quality of course, and more experience, but anything can happen in football.
"We have seen that over the years. Shocks can and do occur. It's always tough against strong teams, especially for debutants.
"I'm always telling them it's 11-on-11 and the ball is in the middle.
"It's very difficult to stop all the stars from Brazil.
"We have to prepare a strategy to stop them and how to score some goals."
Midfielder Stephen Appiah, 25, has a strategy - insisting Ghana are ready to lay their bodies on the line.
The Fenerbahce star said: "The guys are ready to die for the nation.
"All Africans are looking for us to do extraordinary things - to go far. That's why we're here, to make our country and Africa proud.
"We're a good team and people are beginning to notice that. Maybe before, 20,000 people knew us.
"Now there are lots of flags of Ghana. We don't feel extra pressure. We're cool and we're ready.
"The most important thing is we are ready to play any team we might face."
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