Ghana vs USA World Cup 2014 Line Ups: Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng Won’t Start

United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann attends a press conference before an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ghana’s Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng have been left out of the starting line up.

There are four changes in the Ghana line up from the team that beat South Korea 4-0 in the warm-up game in Florida last week, according to the Ghana Football Association.

Adam Kwarasey replaced Fatawu Dauda in goal, and Daniel Opare, Christian Atsu and Jordan Ayew were in for Boateng, injured forward Majeed Waris and defender Harrison Afful.

Lineups:

Ghana: Adam Kwarasey, Daniel Opare, Kwadwo Asamoah, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Rabiu Mohammed, Christian Atsu, Sulley Muntari, Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew.

USA: Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Matt Besler, DaMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Alejandro Bedoya, Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman, Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron, and Fabian Johnson

Here is an AP article on USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann take on CONCACAF wins.

Klinsmann Impressed by CONCACAF Good Start

NATAL, Brazil (AP) — U.S coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been impressed by CONCACAF'S good start at the World Cup with opening-match victories by Mexico and Costa Rica, and says his team is aiming to push the region’s success further when it plays Ghana on Monday.

“It’s exciting to see Mexico win, to see Costa Rica win ... We want them to do well because we are all representing CONCACAF. We want to follow up on that.”

Mexico beat Cameroon 1-0 in Group A and Costa Rica had the biggest upset of the early games with a 3-1 win over Uruguay in Group D on Saturday. CONCACAF’s good run ended Sunday when France beat Honduras 3-0 in Group E.

The U.S. team’s runs at the previous two World Cups have ended with losses to Ghana.

Klinsmann said qualifying in CONCACAF, where teams often face less-than-ideal conditions such as rough fields and poor stadium lighting, prepares the players for anything the weather might throw at them Monday night.

Heavy rains soaked Natal from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, flooding roads and causing mud slides in the coastal city.

“No matter what happens, this group is ready to go ... If it’s raining or snowing or thunder and lightning,” Klinsmann said. “Going through CONCACAF, we’re not complaining, we just go into the countries and make the best out of it. If it goes great, OK. If it doesn’t go great, you learn your lesson.”