One thing synonymous with Die Mannschaaft is opening their tournament account in blistering fashion—like the demolition of Portugal—and then lifting feet of the throttle in the second game. 

It’s always as if the manager experiments with his array of talents in the second game to try and see what they can do.

If the scrip stays true to form, then the Black Stars of Ghana, who must win to keep progression hopes alive, will have their chances. After beating USA 2-1 in consecutive World Cup fixtures, Uncle Sam’s nephews finally reversed the trend, leaving Ghana in a spot of bother.

Of course, in those big tournaments, Asamoah Gyan is never Suarez. He can never rise up to the challenge. Cue the penalty miss in South Africa 2010 quarters against Uruguay?

Gyan is the African version of Emily Heskey or Danny Welbeck. He needs 32 chances to hit the woodwork. How he has managed to be Ghana’s all time joint top scorer is still an enigma. Perhaps, like El-Hadji Diouf, he shines in qualifiers and goes sucking his thumb in tournament proper.

And, with Kevin Prince Boateng playing with the kind of indifference he put up, Ghana’s chances of progressing in this group is very slim. Germany will pip and condemn the Black Stars to early exit in this fixture.

The second game of the evening will see favourites Argentina against the least seeded side, Iran. The ‘nuclear boys’ could have held Nigeria to a draw, but Peter Odemwingie is not Messi, neither will John Obi Mikel be Angel di Maria.

This will be a thumping.

But talking of the African champions, they got their must-win game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nigeria will play Argentina in the final group game. 

Failure to beat Bosnia tonight will mean the World Cup debutants will progress alongside Argentina by beating Iran in their final fixture. I give Nigeria 3-2 win.