Ghana are the worst team in the World Cup, at least according to Fifa. The Black Stars are ranked 61st in the world, well below the 28th spot occupied by South Korea.
Yet on Monday afternoon, the two teams played out the most exciting game of the tournament so far. And Ghana won. So should we add this result to the growing list of big upsets?
Probably not. A quick look at Ghana’s starting line-up helps explain why. Five of the team are regulars in England’s Premier League, two play top-tier football in France, one in Spain and one in Switzerland. Mohammed Kudus, one of the most exciting talents at this World Cup, has been appearing in the Uefa Champions League this season for Dutch champions Ajax.
Only André Ayew, the team captain, plays away from European football. Yet his current stint at Qatari club Al Sadd comes at the tail-end of a career that has included spells at Marseille, West Ham and Swansea City.
So Ghana’s team is full of experienced players plying their trade at the top end of the global game. The Fifa ranking does not reflect that.
The contrast with Qatar is worth noting. Despite being ranked 11 places higher than Ghana, the hosts became the first team to be knocked out of the tournament. The easiest explanation: the entire Qatar squad plays in the domestic league — a far cry from the likes of Ajax, Arsenal and Auxerre.
So when trying to gauge the true gulf between sides, skip Fifa’s league tables and focus on where the individuals play week in, week out.
Source: Josh Noble and Samuel Agini || FT