Video: Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh must plan to stop Portugal strikers Bruma & Aladje at U20 World Cup

Published on: 30 June 2013
Video: Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh must plan to stop Portugal strikers Bruma & Aladje at U20 World Cup
" width="441" height="293" /> Bruma has been key for Portugal and has scored five goals in the competition

Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh must carve meticulous tactics to stop Portugal striker Bruma when the two sides meet in the second round of the U20 World Cup in Turkey on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old attacker has scored five goals in three games at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey and been compared to compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo as both have come through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon.

According to experts, Jose Mourinho has been interested in Bruma “for several months” and recommended the attacker to Real Madrid before arriving at Chelsea.

Bruma made his debut for Sporting Lisbon in February and impressed in the latter months of 2012/2013. His goals and ability to cause problems for defenders means Black Satellites wing backs of Baba Rahman and Nketiah must be in top form to stop him.

If Bruma is used as the top target man, coach Tetteh will need taller and skilful defenders in the heart of the central defence to spot the Portuguese.

The Ghanaian defence was shambolic in their first game against France who had power and height and that could be repeated against Portugal if these problems are not checked by coach Tetteh.

But Bruma is not the only threat as Aladje can secretly cause similar damage for the Black Satellites.

In Aladje Portugal have a secret weapon at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013, so secret in fact that not even the Portuguese fans seem to know who he is or where he came from.

There is a good reason for the mystery. Unlike his colleagues in the national team,19-year-old Aladjehas never played for any of Portugal’s youth teams and has never set down roots in the country where his family hail from and where many of his friends live.

Born in Guinea-Bissau to Portuguese parents, the striker has blazed a different trail to team-mates Bruma, Edgar Ie and Agostinho Ca, all of whom were also born in the small West African state and left for Portugal at a young age.

So you can see the similarities with France's strikers who are of African descent and damaged the Black Satellites in their opening game. So Sellas Tetteh must plan extremely well to be able to defeat the Portuguese.

All eyes, including presumably Chelsea scouts, will be on Bruma for Portugal U20s last 16 clash with Ghana on Wednesday.

Sporting face financial difficulties and Bruma has just one year left on his contract. There were suggestions last week that the youngster was keen to stay but his excellent performances in the Under-20 World Cup will likely speed up his exit.

Bruma can play all across the front line and would be a very exciting player for Chelsea should they win the chase for a forward that is also attracting interest from fellow English clubs Manchester United and Manchester City.

Watch video of Bruma in action:

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