World Cup 2010: Stephen Appiah confident Ghana can create history

Published on: 30 June 2010

Ghana skipper Stephen Appiah feels that his side are on the brink of creating history as they aim to become the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

The Black Stars face Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday for a place in the last four of the first global showpiece on African soil.

However, although the west Africans carry the hopes of their continent, the 29-year-old says they will not be overawed by the enormity of the occasion.

"What I've learnt is the more pressure you put on yourself, the more things go wrong," he told FIFA.com.

"For now, we're relaxed, training, laughing, singing, dancing. I think that's very important.

"I think that history is always history.

"Now it's our turn. Now that we're there, it's history for Ghana. We hope that we can still better it by going to the semi-final. And, for myself, it would be a great achievement because one day I would like to talk to my kids and explain to them what happened in South Africa in 2010."

The former Juventus star revealed his side's discipline has been one of the keys to their success throughout the tournament.

"This Black Stars team is strange," he said. "If you go to some of the teams, if you go to their camp after a big victory like (against the US), you'll see the players outside the lobby, drinking and going to bed late.

"But, in our camp, you won't even see the players outside. After a big win you'll see us in our room, maybe talking with our wives, with our girlfriends or friends.

"We will be playing cards or listening to music. I think it's a good thing because, as I always say, with big players, you don't see them out after a big victory.

"They always stay in and focus. I think it's a good sign. The moment you think everything is going well and you start getting a cocky head, then everything goes wrong," he concluded.

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