Maybe so, however for to many Ghanaians the quarterfinal defeat to Uruguay within the 2010 World Cup continues to be a uncooked and painful reminiscence. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez’s deliberate handball on the goal-line on the finish of additional time denied Ghana a sure purpose and a spot in historical past as the primary African workforce to succeed in the semis.

Suarez was despatched off for the handball however celebrated wildly on the sidelines when Asamoah Gyan hit the ensuing penalty off the crossbar. Uruguay gained the following penalty shootout. To make it worse, Suarez boasted after the 2010 recreation: “Truth is, it was worth it.” Twelve years later, Ghana now has an opportunity to settle the rating.

By beating Uruguay of their remaining Group H match, Ghana would advance to the spherical of 16, whereas knocking Uruguay out of the event. Though the match in Al Wakrah has been circled as one to look at ever because the World Cup draw was made in April, Addo tried his finest to forged it as a “normal game.” “I’m not really thinking about revenge,” he mentioned, including he remembered watching Ghana’s agonizing loss on TV in 2010.

“But it’s 12 years ago and now it’s a different match with a different approach. So I don’t see it as a revenge.”

Ghana, which squeezed out an exhilarating 3-2 win over South Korea in its final recreation, should win once more in Al Wakrah to make sure of going previous the group stage for the primary time since 2010. A draw may be sufficient relying on the results of South Korea vs Portugal.

Captain Andre Ayew is the one Ghana participant in Qatar who was on the 2010 squad. Uruguay has a handful, together with the 35-year-old Suarez, who’s enjoying what’s doubtless his farewell World Cup earlier than winding down a profession that noticed him celebrated as among the best forwards on this planet at one level. He gained the Copa America with Uruguay and Spanish league titles and a Champions League trophy with Barcelona.

Suarez additionally carved out a fame as one of many recreation’s most controversial characters and has additionally been punished thrice for biting opponents, together with a four-month ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Suarez began Uruguay’s 0-0 draw with South Korea in Qatar however was left on the bench for the 2-0 loss to Portugal, which left Uruguay backside of the group. Uruguay should now beat Ghana and hope South Korea doesn’t beat Portugal to increase its keep on the World Cup and Suarez’s worldwide profession for a minimum of another recreation. Goal distinction will resolve it if Uruguay and South Korea each win.

Stoking it up just a bit, Suarez mentioned the 2010 recreation in opposition to Ghana does nonetheless imply one thing.

“We are going to put our lives and soul into this match,” Suarez mentioned. “Ghana is a good team but we know them, we have beaten them before and we know how to beat them again.”