It’s an all-African second-round tie as Jonathan Bogart’s Ghana side take on Katherine St Asaph’s Algeria. Ghana qualified at the top of Group G with 7 points, while Algeria fought back from a poor start to qualify from Group H with 5. The winner here will go into a quarter-final against France or Nigeria. Meanwhile, England will meet Croatia in the quarters after they saw off Cote D’Ivoire. Congratulations to Ronald, and we say goodbye to the Ivoirians below the cut.
R16 6: Ghana v Algeria - Which Do You Pick? [ballot]
- GHANA: Sarkodie 71%
- ALGERIA: Cheb Nadir 29%
Total Voters: 34
Poll closes: 12 May 2014 @ 13:00
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GHANA: Sarkodie ft EL – “You Go Kill Me”
“The top striking MC in Ghana right now, and for the past half-decade, has been Sarkodie. This lineup, with excellent co-forward EL, is one of the loosest and most purely enjoyable in recent Ghanian pop football.”
ALGERIA: Cheb Nadir – “Le Grand Succès”
“500,000+ YouTube views! The title speaks truth. Built on an almost reggae-like backing, — the tags on a few versions indicate as much — that recurs just often enough to be a main theme. The rest is 10 minutes of processed, twisty vamping from vocalist and instrumentalists, and I’ve listened about five times so far hearing how it snarls and unravels what it’s made of itself.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eivGFrLvkFA
SO FAREWELL THEN…: Cote D’Ivoire – Garry McK’s squad won a lot of friends with tactics determined to show off the multiple styles of modern Ivoirian pop, and scored well in every group stage match. A match against England proved a game too far, but as the team hit the highway, here’s Meiway, their Player of the Tournament, with strike partner Black Kent. “Impressive interplay between the two front men” quoth the commentators.
both teams are using reggae tactics early on although Algeria very soon begin to add some North African touches. Ghana impress with the nimble footwork of their front man and remain a tight unit throughout. Algeria hold the ball up, attempting to frustrate their opponents but Ghana remain focused and positive and nick a winner. Algeria are still playing after the final whistle and eventually the groundskeeper leaves them the key and wanders off home.
Ghana delight with deft touches and an almost telepathic understanding between Sarkodie and EL, their strike partnership look certain to notch up a hatful. Algeria make sure all their players get a crack at goal, but Boy! What a slog they make of it. Pop World Cup football brought to you by Algerian Minecraft.
Think the Algerian length is a virtue. It presents an entire ecosystem. At some points we hear the singer trying to be top predator; at others, we feel ferns waving in the breeze.
But then, the Ghanaian track has the best vocals of the tournament. I’m leaning Ghana, but will enjoy giving this time to play out.
Algeria, along with Chile, have been masters of the patient slow build throughout the tournament, and this is another impressive showing, but I’m afraid they’re no match for the pace and invention of Ghana, who have been one of the best teams in the tournament full stop. They’ll be azonto-ing all the way to the final at this rate.
With Ghana’s EL and Sarkodie up front, Algeria can lay all the hazy instrumentation they want, but like piranhas, they chomp through for more than just one score.
Went Ghana in the end. While I approve of games going into extra time, Algeria were ultimately beaten by Ghana’s directness.
(The uninitiated might think this page is really about photo of men holding daggy, awkward poses…)
Argh, I meant to extend the voting by a day because we’d had so many technical issues last week. I doubt it would have made any difference to the result, but the records deserved a bit more voting. Congratulations Ghana in any case – Nigeria v Ghana will be a tasty quarter-final.