Interview With Sulley Muntari

We are talking about Sulley Muntari, one of the most interesting midfielders on the international football landscape, someone ready to contribute with tactical insight, knowledge of he opposition, forward movement and shots from distance to make Ghana?s first ever World Cup participation unforgettable.  Muntari recently spoke to Goal.com?

Hi Sulley, apart from the Ivory Coast, why did all the teams that qualified for the World Cup fail in the African Cup of Nations?
Frankly I don?t know. I, for example, was not present for the African Cup, I remained at Udinese because I was injured. But no one snubbed the competition, because winning the Cup is always a reason for prestige.

What type of game does your national team adopt from a tactical point of view? Who do you think is the best player?
Our game system is based on the 4-4-2 tactic. Who?s the best player? There are many, however elements like Kuffour and Appiah deserve applause.

Are you happy to be in Italy?s group, or would you have preferred avoiding them?
Certainly. It?s a nice group and we shall do our best to qualify, even though the opponents are strong, like Italy, who are better than USA and the Czech Republic.

Your team-mate, Appiah, who came to Italy very young, declared that in the first few months of his experience, he only ate ice-creams because he could not understand the Italian cuisine. In Ghana, is there the culture of the sports diet?
In Ghana now there is more culture of the sport alimentation, the food which is given takes into account our activity, our workloads, and so it will be during the Germany World Cup. Also in this field we are advancing.

There is a lot of curiosity about how you prepare for matches: I don?t think that there is the same silence as with the Italian dressing rooms, right? What do you do before an important game?
Just like the other important national teams we go to a camp, also from this point of view we are like the rest of the football world.

In Italy, do you mainly mix with fellow countrymen? Or do you integrate yourself and go out with some other team-mates?
Appiah, who's my friend even though today he plays abroad, then Kuffour, Asamoah, a very quick attacker who scores easily. I meet up with all of these fellow countrymen.

In Ghana, are they in favour of practical, pragmatic football with results like Capello achieves, or do they prefer an offensive and spectacular style like Zeman?
In Ghana we take into account the characteristics of every play, just like everywhere else. But we are more inclined to actuate  practical football.

Tell us your predictions of the standings of the group, without any diplomacy?
To avoid bad luck I won't say, but we do believe in ourselves and want more than ever to qualify.

Who will you exchange your shirt with against Italy?
No one

Did you reveal the secrets of Italy to your coach? If you had to identify the number one danger, who would it be?
There?s nothing to reveal about Italy, or its players. Your football has no secrets, it's one of the best. I think that's enough.

You think that in Italy (on every pitch) there?s too much talking about the referee?s performance?
At times I think yes, but let?s not exaggerate in criticizing the Italian referees, they are good, there?s nothing more to say.

In Ghana do they follow the Italian league and the foreign leagues where your countrymen play?
Certainly. After all there are many of my fellow countrymen who play abroad, we are ambassadors of Ghana, so it?s normal that in our country they follow the rest of the world and other leagues.

Do you know much about the USA? What do you fear about Arena?s squad? Everyone?s talking about this McBride?
I don?t know USA much, but it?s obvious that if they qualified for the World Cup, they cannot be underestimated. Surely football in the United States is growing. McBride? He?s good, has personality, but Ghana will have to be careful also about other players of USA.

In the last matchday of the group, there?s Italy-Czech Republic. Do you fear that the friendship between many of the players of the two teams can, in case of need, have the same epilogue as the Sweden-Denmark game in Euro 2004?
I don?t know, I didn?t even think about it.

What is your objective for the World Cup? Will you arrive there with the right mentality?
To qualify for the next round, like I said before. We respect one by one our opponents, but we can do it. Ghana has a certain experience on the international field, we have the players to cope with going a long way in the World Cup. I count on it.

Do you feel like giving a suggestion to Marcello Lippi, even a funny one?
No, Lippi does not need my suggestions. I don?t suggest anything to the Italian coach.

Thanks Sulley, and good luck in Germany.

Interview conducted by Goal.com Italy