by ARISTO DOTSE
The United States have now confirmed an international friendly with Ghana in July in preparation for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup which takes place across the United States from July 6-21.
The United States, who beat Ghana 2-1 in the opening group game of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, will play Ghana for the first time on Ghana's Republic Day on July 1 at the Pratt and Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut, a week before they open their 2017 Gold Cup campaign against Panama on July 8.
Bruce Arena, the returning US coach who took over from German Jurgen Klinsmann last November, over 10 years after leaving the job, is happy for a Ghana test, which he believes, would put the US in a good stead for the Gold Cup.
"Ghana is certainly a team that brings different challenges, and it’s the type of competition we need as we continue to develop our programme,” he told ussoccer.com, the official US football website.
“Winning the Gold Cup is one of our priorities in 2017 so this is an important opportunity. We’ve always had great support in Hartford and look forward to more of the same this summer.”
The July 1 date will be the fourth time Ghana and the US will be meeting at the senior level after their three World Cup meetings in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Arena, a New Yorker of Italian descent, was in charge when Ghana beat the US 2-1 in the final group game at Germany 2006. He is seeking to put his current team in shape to put up a better display against the Black Stars to ensure a sound preparation for the Gold Cup.
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