Twenty-two million Ghanaians kept 44 million fingers crossed when it was announced that medical officials from both Ghana and Chelsea would travel to London to assess Michael Essien’s knee injury, after which his availability or otherwise for the FIFA World Cup would be determined once and for all. Prayers of hope and belief that arguably Ghana’s finest player would take to the field for Ghana’s opener versus Serbia on 13th June, were dashed in the cruellest of fashions when later that day, the Ghanaian football association confirm that the Chelsea enforcer, would in fact not recover in time to play for his beloved country. The mood in the country thereafter has been decidedly sombre in the aftermath of the FA’s announcement, as though Ghana’s hopes of progress in Group D evaporated simply due to Essien’s now confirmed absence. The 30 players currently training in Paris, desperately trying to secure 23 available spots to South Africa, will be the first to remind their despairing fans of Angola 2010: The Black Stars-minus Essien- then somehow meandered their way to Africa’s biggest final, overcoming Burkina Faso, hosts Angola and bitter rivals Nigeria, falling only to Egypt at the final hurdle on their way there. Coach Rajevac has been hit hard by the loss of Essien but in trying to inspire his visibly disturbed team fell on the invaluable experience his players picked up at the Nations Cup, as a source of motivation: “It’s most unfortunate. But I hope and believe that the other players would give off their best,” he said. “We want to achieve with this team and must work hard. We will focus on the task ahead and hope we have a good World Cup. I hope the past experiences with injuries, though unfortunate will help us stay united and fight for each other.” Ghana begins her quest to exceed her 2nd round performance at the 2006 Mundial, against Holland on Tuesday, 1st June, 2010 and Latvia on Saturday 5th June, in two pre-tournament friendlies which will be aired LIVE on Joy Sports and Adom TV, with accompanying English and Twi commentary respectively, on Multi-TV, more TV for free. The FIFA deadline for all 32 teams to provide a final 23 man list expires a few hours after Ghana kicks off against Holland at 6:45pm, which suggests that Rajevac’s match selection is likely to mirror that picked to face Serbia 12 days later, in South Africa. The thrill of the Black Stars versus Holland can be enjoyed at the following venues, courtesy of Multi-TV’s BIG SCREEN experience: Accra: Freedom & Justice Park at Kwame Nkrumah Circle with Asempa FM; Semi’s Place, Asylum Down; Enso Nyame Ye and Faculty, Dansoman; Papillon, Korle-Bu; Slantos, Abeka Total; Central University Cafeteria, Kaneshie, De Vault Gardens, Tema Community 5; Total Filling Station, Teshie Nungua 1st Junction; Shakes Pub Adenta, Kumasi: Clark’s Place, Danyame with Luv FM; and 4th Gardens, Warrant Officers’ & Sergeant’s Mess - Ridge with Nhyira FM. Holland coach, Bert van Marwijk has already named his final 23 men, who will represent L’Orange in South Africa: Holland Squad: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht); Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Andre Ooijer (PSV); Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV); Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (HSV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich). Coach Milovan Rajevac has 30 to choose from: Ghana Squad: Richard Kingston, Daniel Adjei, Stephen Ahorlu, Stephen Adams, Samuel Inkoom, Hans Sarpei, Lee Addy, John Mensah, Rahim Ayew, Isaac Vorsah, John Paintsil, Jonathan Mensah, Eric Addo, Dede Ayew, Michael Essien, Kojo Asamoah, Agyemang Badu, Stephen Appiah, Anthony Annan, Haminu Dramani, Sulley Muntari, Quincy Owusu Abeyie, Derek Boateng, Bernard Kumordzie, Laryea Kingston, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan, Dominic Adiyiah, Matthew Amoah. By Joseph Hansen/Multi TV/Ghana