GHANA v Italy

I was so glad that Ghana had qualified for their first World Cup. Not because it was long overdue and they deserved it more than anyone; but because there are bloody loads of Ghanaians in London and they know how to throw a party.

Our already considerable options for the Italy game grew shortly before kick-off when we were invited to an event in a swanky new Ghanaian bar in Clerkenwell, and we decided it would be rude to turn it down.

So we sped up to the heart of, ironically, London’s Italian community and made our way down to the basement bar, where we were greeted by our charming hosts. I had managed to acquire a lovely Ghana shirt from Puma for the game, and, with them being like gold dust, promised it to AJ, one of our hosts, at full time.

The bar was stocked with special west African Guinness (brewed at 7.5% especially for the west African market, where they like their beer strong), which they were making into punch with some sort of thick yellow stuff for the ladies, presumably because it wasn’t already quite strong enough. It was dangerously delicious.

Although they were in the same tough group as USA and the Czech Republic and tonight they were facing one of the tournament favourites, the atmosphere was unremittingly positive, upbeat and lively; if perhaps just a little too, well, polite for our Scottish sensibilities. Two things that I’m glad to say weren’t as polite were the signs on the toilet doors.

The crowd was, of course, overwhelmingly Ghanaian, with a healthy sprinkling of English friends who cheerfully admitted they just couldn’t resist the lure of the Ghana.

Unfortunately, Italy were playing as well as everyone had feared they just might and there were screams as they went close. But the excitement mounted as Ghana, with their star-studded midfield, were giving as good as they got in this second heavyweight clash of the tournament.

The atmosphere remained lively even after Italy made their class tell when they took the lead just before half time, and Ghana chased the game to the bitter end, when Italy substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta made it 2-0.

But the fans weren’t too downhearted, knowing they’d given a good account of themselves against a top side, and that Ghana still had a good shout of making the knock-out stages.

“Will you beat the Czechs?” I asked AJ as I gave him my shirt at full time. “We’ve got to beat America too,” he said, to which I replied: “Did you see them this afternoon? You’ll beat them. I’ll bet my shirt on it.”