Ghana had one foot out the door before Portugal finished the job

'Even before a ball had been kicked,' against Portugal on Thursday writes John McAuley, 'Ghana's bid to keep alive their World Cup hopes seemed extinguished.'

Anre Ayew, Michael Esien and Fatawu Dauda of Ghana leave the pitch after their 2-1 loss to Portugal on Thursday at the 2014 World Cup. Christopher Lee / Getty Images / June 26, 2014

Even before a ball had been kicked at Brasilia on Thursday, Ghana’s bid to keep alive their World Cup hopes seemed extinguished.

There may not be a manual explaining how best to qualify for the tournament’s knockout stages, but if one did exist it would surely advise against pay disputes and player suspensions overshadowing a big-game build-up.

When a country’s president has to charter a plane containing US$3 million (Dh11m) in players’ salaries, simply to avoid a strike, chances of focusing for football’s greatest prize appear grounded.

Throw in the banishing of Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, for disciplinary reasons, less than 24 hours out from the match with Portugal and you might as well keep the engine running.

That plane can supply a quick turnaround. Ghana’s Brazilian adventure never really achieved lift-off.

Even Baby Jet could not propel them beyond the group. Asamoah Gyan certainly tried, as much as he could, thumping Ghana into the lead in last Saturday’s enthralling encounter with Germany and then heading the equaliser against Portugal. The Al Ain striker can depart with head held high and his reputation burnished, but the damage had already been done.

For all his obvious flaws – a questionable temperament, both on the pitch and off – Muntari forms an integral component of this side, the driving force at the heart of midfield.

He has an eye for the spectacular, too, as the palms of Manuel Neuer, or Tim Howard, would surely attest. Muntari serves another function, though, as one of his country’s most experienced players. In short, and although the details of the alleged altercation with a FA executive committee member have not been released, he should have known better.

At 29, the opportunity to represent his country at a World Cup may not come around again. Boateng, meanwhile, could be back, but it is questionable as to whether Ghana really want him. The Schalke midfielder is undoubtedly gifted, yet he carries just as much baggage as Muntari.

In Brazil, he did little on the pitch to justify his inclusion.

It is worth remembering, such is the level of talent coming through in Ghana’s midfield, that Boateng can presumably no longer hold claim to a regular spot in the first XI.

From the debris of what quickly became a calamitous campaign for Ghana, there were a few shards of light. As mentioned, Gyan excelled, adding two goals to a resume that now confirms him as the most prolific African in tournament history

Christian Atsu suggested he has a bright future, while Jonathan Mensah grew as the tournament progressed.

However, for a side who targeted at least the last 16 and perhaps advancing farther than their quarter-finalists of 2010, this was a substantially disappointing World Cup. Its final few days just further that feeling.

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