In this week’s Then and Now feature Soccer Laduma compares the performances of Asamoah Gyan at the 2010 World Cup to what we can expect of the Ghana star in Brazil.
Gyan became one of the emerging stars at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.But unfortunately many remember him for the crucial penalty miss in the quarter-final against Uruguay.
The game was tied 0-0 and Luis Suarez famously blocked an attempt by Ghana with his hand on the goal-line.
With no minutes remaining, Gyan had the chance to kick Ghana into the semi-final, which would have been a first for an African side, but he missed the penalty.
He scored in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, but Uruguay went on to win it 4-2.
Gyan finished the tournament with three goals, after scoring in both of Ghana’s first two matches against Serbia and Australia.
The Black Stars qualified for the quarter-final against the USA where Gyan scored the winner in extra-time.
Following the quarter-final exit, Gyan missed another crucial penalty in the semi-final of the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
Ghana went on to lose 1-0 and and Gyan announced an ‘indefinite break’ from international football. However, he returned in May 2012 and has since taken over as captain for the Black Stars.
The 28-year-old was Ghana’s best goal-scorer in the World Cup qualification campaign, scoring six goals, including two in the 7-3 aggregate victory against Egypt in the play-offs.
Gyan is currently playing for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates and has scored 59 goals in 47 appearances for the club.
Ghana will need the forward to put on his goal-scoring boots in order to make it out of their difficult Group G with Germany, Portugal and the USA.
