World Cup 2014 talking points: Ghana shame Africa but Algeria restore pride

Ghana’s shambles is just so predictable, Ronaldo is right about Portugal, Algeria primed for revenge on Germany and what has happened to the Asian teams in Brazil?

Ghana’s shambolic meltdown was oh so predictable What a shambles. Two days before a crucial final group game, Ghana implode. The players boycott training because they have not been paid their World Cup appearance money, James Appiah, the coach, is involved in a slanging match with Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Sulley Muntari is accused by the Ghana Football Association of “an unprovoked physical attack” on one of its members. Appiah did well to keep a straight face when he claimed after Thursday’s 2-1 defeat by Portugal that the events leading up to the game had no impact on the players. The saddest part of this tale, though, is that it was all so predictable. We have been here so many times before with the African nations and there is no sign that things are getting any better. Cameroon’s players had refused to board the plane to Brazil after a row over World Cup bonuses. Then came the ridiculous sight of a police convey escorting £1.7m in cash to Ghana’s team hotel in Brasilia on the eve of the Portugal game. And now the latest reports are that Nigeria, who take on France in the last 16 on Monday, cancelled training on Thursday evening because of a meeting about bonus money that is due for reaching the knockout stage. Something has to change.