Ghana will be looking for revenge against Uruguay following the extraordinary battle between the two teams in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.
The South American nation progressed to the final four via a penalty shootout after the two teams finished level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football, but there was huge controversy late on, with Luis Suarez receiving a red card for handling on the line in the final seconds; Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting spot kick, which sent the contest to penalties, with Uruguay reaching the final four for the first time since 1970.
Ghana can now eliminate Uruguay from the 2022 competition, with the Black Stars currently sitting second in Group H, having picked up three points from their opening two matches at the tournament, losing their section opener 3-2 to Portugal before recording a 3-2 victory over South Korea.
A victory would send Otto Addo’s side into the knockout round, while a draw would be enough if South Korea do not beat Portugal, who are already through. Should South Korea triumph against Fernando Santos’s side, then second in the group would be decided on goal difference.
Ahead of Friday’s clash, Addo insists he cannot blame Suarez for what he did since any player would do the same for his country.
“In general, it’s about perspective. If the same incident had happened the other way around and Ghana had proceeded to the semi-finals, everyone would have said that it’s ok, it’s normal that a player would do everything that he can to help his team to go to the semi-finals. So for me, it’s not a big topic,” said Addo.
“This is what I wish from every player, to do all that he can do to help his team qualify and sometimes even sacrifice himself with red cards. It was a very sad day for me. I watched it and I was so sad. But this is my perspective. If I see it from another perspective it’s a normal thing so for me it’s not a big topic and I’m going into the match like every other match,” he added.
Meanwhile, Suarez has refused to apologise for his handball at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“I don’t say I apologise about that because I take the handball but the Ghana player missed the penalty, not me,” said Suarez.
“Maybe I can say I apologise if I tackle and injure a player and take a red card, maybe I can apologise.
“But in this situation I take a red card, the referee said ‘penalty’. It’s not my fault because I did not miss the penalty, the player missed the penalty.”
