France, June 10 -- Ghana's first game at a World Cup ended in a 2-0 defeat to Italy in Hanover. After the loss, several Ghana players trudged through the mixed zone for interviews and conceded they had been overawed by the occasion.

Skipper Stephen Appiah told RFI: "You will see the real face of Ghana in the next match."

The 25-year-old appeared unperturbed that he and his teammates would face a Czech Republic side that included Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, as well as Tomas Rosicky and Pavel Nedved, who had been in strong form for Arsenal and Juventus respectively.

In the second minute of the game at the WM Stadion in Cologne, Asamoah Gyan became the country's first player to score at a World Cup. Sulley Muntari added a second after 8...