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John Mensah's grin and shake of the head when asked about the team's tactics is revealing. "The coach is good," Ghana's captain said. "We all know that. He does his tactical thing and we do what he says. This compact play, that's what he wants and it's what we do and we all believe this compact play will help us move forward."

The impression he gives -- and it may be that as the cold of the Veld bites he is being mischievous and looking simply to return to the dressing room -- is that Milovan Rajevac's tactical instructions leave him mystified, but he accepts their efficacy. Mensah, the Rock of Gibraltar as he is nicknamed (or the Crock of Gibraltar as he rather cruelly became in an injury-ravaged season at Sunderland), doesn't really do the "tactical thing;" he just does the being big and defending heroically thing.

It seems probable Mensah's back will stand up to the game against the U.S., which prepares the ground for a fascinating physical contest between him and Jozy Altidore.

If the USA plays its usual 4-4-2, Ghana will have an extra man in the central area, although Michael Bradley and whoever partners him will have support from the tucked-in wide midfielders. They just about coped with similar outnumbering against Algeria, but this will be a tougher test, as Ghana's players are more disciplined.

Dede Ayew, the son of Abedi Pele, has had a fine season with Arles-Avignon, and has maintained that form in this tournament so far, an explosive and skillful presence who can operate on either flank. On the other side so far has been Prince Tagoe, who drifts infield, but has been rather less effective than Ayew, and it would not be a great surprise if Sulley Muntari, despite a training-ground row with Rajevac this week, was selected ahead of him.

Ghana certainly won't be afraid of allowing the U.S. to dominate possession, and that is where U.S.' lack of width may be an issue. Even Germany needed a special goal -- albeit one permitted by a momentary lapse in the marking structure -- to beat Ghana. This is not going to be open game and, even more than usual, it is one likely to be decided by the first goal. Ghana is a fine team at holding a lead; rather poorer, as it showed against Australia, when the onus is on it to take the initiative. Not since that Mali game last November has it successfully overcome a deficit.

The key is probably the extent to which the U.S.' creative players, Donovan and Dempsey, can be brought into the game. Overlapping runs from the fullbacks could create space -- although they must be wary of granting Ayew or Tagoe/Muntari space to advance into, but -- once again, thanks to the string of dogged opponents the U.S. has faced -- it may come down to whether Michael Bradley and his midfield partner can impose themselves and find the range of passing to circumvent Ghana's central midfield trio.

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Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off