The former Sunderland and Udinese forward also picked Fabio Cannavaro as one of the toughest defenders he ever faced.
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Asamoah Gyan: Cannavaro and Italy are my toughest opponents
Ex-Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has named Italy as the toughest team he faced during his two-decade-long professional career.
Asamoah Gyan: Cannavaro and Italy are my toughest opponents
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Gyan was already plying his trade in Italy when he first faced the Azzurri for the first time in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Asamoah Gyan during 2006 World Cup
Pulse Ghana
The then 20-year-old was one of Ghana’s key players during the country’s maiden appearance at the World Cup and was named in the starting line-up for the Black Stars’ opening game against Italy.
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However, Gyan and his other inexperienced compatriots were beaten by the Europeans, who romped to a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Speaking about the toughest opponents in his career, the 38-year-old said Italy and Cannavaro, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2006, stand out of the lot.
Asamoah Gyan
Pulse Ghana
“Italy was the toughest opponent I faced as a Black Stars player. Cannavaro was too tough to go past,” Gyan said on Onua TV.
“I believed in my capacity to outclass defenders but he was too good for me. No wonder he won the Ballon d’Or that year. His efforts were buttressed by Nesta.”
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Meanwhile, Ghana went on to beat the Czech Republic 2-0, where Gyan scored the opening goal, and the USA to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
That was as far as the Black Stars went, though, as they were eliminated after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brazil. Italy, though, won the World Cup after beating France on penalties in the final.
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