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But for Luis Suarez' hand, Ghana may well have become the first African World Cup semi-finalist in 2010. Alas, it did not occur but Ghana return to the global stage as Africa's most consistent side over the past eight years.
They have reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last four African Cup of Nations, while they reached the knockout stages in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup.
They head to Brazil with a young side featuring up-and-coming stars such as Abdul Majeed Waris and Christian Atsu but with heaps of experience in Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari.
They have faced hard groups in their previous two World Cups and face the same fate as they take on Germany, Portugal and the USA.
Newstalk's Team 33 spoke to Ghana-based academy founder Tom Vernon, who was a former Manchester United scout, to find out about the Ghanaian players to watch and why this is far from a good time for football on the African continent.
You can listen to the interview via the Team 33 podcast below or subscribe for free on iTunes:
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Ghana's Asamoah Gyan is dejected after missing a penalty in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay in 2010 ©INPHO/Action Images/John Sibley
World Cup Record
Appearances: 3
Best Result: Quarter-final (2010)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke).
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux)
Managers: James Kwesi Appiah
Fixtures and Results
Group G
June 16 vs USA (Natal) 2 - 1 (L)
June 21 vs Germany (Fortaleza) 2 - 2 (D)
June 26 vs Portugal (Brasilia) 2 - 1 (L)
