Ghana struggle to calm down for USA clash

COLOGNE, June 18 (Reuters) - The hardest task facing World Cup debutants Ghana will be bringing themselves down from the high that followed Saturday's 2-0 win over Czech Republic.

'We coaches always have the same problem,' said Ratomir Dujkovic after watching his team outplay the Czechs in virtually all areas in their Group E match at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion.

'If we lose a game, then we have to work hard to up the morale in the team and when we win we have to try just as hard to calm everybody down,' added the Serbian.

While their first triumph was vital to Ghana's chances of making it past the group stage, it was also described by the players as an important statement for Africa, whose teams had failed to manage a single win at this year's tournament.

'It's for the team, for the country and for all the African teams in the world,' influential midfielder Michael Essien insisted after picking up the Man of the Match award.

'Of course, we knew that the other African sides had not been doing that well,' said Asamoah Gyan, scorer of the opening goal. 'That definitely helped motivate us and now hopefully there will be at least one African team in the second round.'

Whatever happens to their fellow Africans in the remaining group matches, Ghana certainly suggested on Saturday that the continent deserves at least one representative in the final 16.

If the Black Stars follow their display against the Czechs with a win over the U.S. on Thursday their progress is assured.

Such an achievement would no doubt see further wild celebrations in Ghana's capital Accra, which was already awash with delirious supporters following Saturday's final whistle.

After hearing calls for his dismissal following the team's opening defeat to Italy, though, Dujkovic was never likely to be among those getting too carried away.

'Us coaches always have our bags packed ready to go,' he said with a wry smile. 'It's logical in Africa that after a defeat everybody wants the coach's head. Now that we've won I'm suddenly a hero in Ghana. It's an emotional place!'