FIFA World Cup 2010: How the USA Can Win Against Ghana

We may quickly run through Sun Tzu's five essentials for a successful war or battle--Moral Law, Heaven, Earth, The Commander, and Method and Discipline-- and safely disregard the first four as already fulfilled platitudes by both the USA and Ghana.

Safely because, for all intents and purposes, we may assume that players are dutifully following and obeying their respective coaches (there's your Moral Law).

As for heaven, which represents weather, it is winter at present in South Africa. We knew it before the World Cup, so neither the USA or Ghana may now cry about this, nor should we worry about the possibility of rain on Saturday. If it rains, tough luck.

The two sides will have no choice but to adjust to weather condition during the match.

Earth?

Every team in South Africa should be adjusted to the altitude and the condition of the pitches by now. We should not expect any complains from here.

Should we put the Vuvuzelas here?

Any team that loses on Saturday and points to the Vuvuzelas should be dismissed as simply looking for excuses. Vuvuzelas have been adopted by the visiting fans, and having played three times under the ambiance of the Vuvuzelas, players should be well adjusted to them at this point.

The commander?

The commander (in our case, the coach), says Sun Tzu, "stands for the virtues of wisdom, benevolence, courage and strictness."

Need we comment on this? Your coach does not have wisdom? Tough luck. Too strict, à la Fabio Capello? What do you expect? Not benevolent? Who said a coach is a baby sitter? Should do with a little more courage? Who wouldn't when faced with the intense tension that attends soccer games for upwards of 90 minutes?

Our concern then should be with the last of Sun Tzu's constants:Method and Discipline. What methods should the USA use on Saturday to defeat Ghana?

Bob Bradley, the US coach, should already have his methods cut if not dried or should be in the process of drafting them. We should tell him one sure thing he could do to win on Saturday; if by chance he hasn't already listed it among his strategies.

The Ghanaians are a young and bright side and have shown a tendency to start a match strongly. The USA should assume they will start this way on Saturday and be prepared to counter this. Interestingly this area of strength for Ghana is conversely an area of weakness for the USA.

The USA have started slowly in the three matches they have played: conceding early to England and only had mother luck to thank for getting an equalizer, falling behind by two goals to Slovenia in the first half and had to strain every fiber and sinew to bounce back, leaving it to the final moments of their match against Algeria to score.

What a way to tango with disaster!

Sun Tzu says, "All warfare is based on deception."

Translations? The USA can turn the above-said weakness to strength: start strong by scoring first, thus defying expectation.

If the USA have started slowly and ended strongly, the reverse is the case for Ghana. This is the secret ingredient for sure victory for the USA on Saturday.

In their match against Australia, the Ghanaians tired out in the last thirty minutes of the game, which is to say, early in the second half. The Australians finished stronger even though they played much of the match with a man down rather than at a full strength.

This was also the case in Ghana's match against Germany, where they showed visible lapse in concentration, deep in the second half.

This can only benefit the USA.

This show of weakness as the game progresses may be as a result of the Ghanaian team's youthfulness. Eight of their players were recently part of their under 20 side that won the world championship in Egypt.

Starting strongly and finishing weakly is consonant with youthfulness, where exuberance wins over temperance or endurance.

"Is that it?" You say. 

What do you expect? Some grand and obscure secret? Game winning secrets are seldom grand. Was the Trojan horse, as an example, any grander a plan than what we have exposed?

All right, how about this?

Sun Tzu says, "Do not leave  it until the last minute to score your goals as this has the making of a disaster."

No, he didn't say that, but you would agree that it's in keeping with his spirit. Here is what he does say:

when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we
are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Interpretation? You tell me.