Czech Republic defender Marek Jankulovski is keen to clinch qualification for the second phase at the earliest opportunity - and therefore avoid having to beat Italy in the final group game.

Victory over Ghana in Cologne later on Saturday would see the ageing but hugely talented Czechs book their place alongside other fancied teams in the last 16.

And the 29-year-old defender was therefore calling for a repeat of the performance they put in against USA in the opening fixture, which saw the Czechs record an impressive 3-0 win.

He said: "We all wish it would be the same as in the European Championships in Portugal and we would qualify from the group after two games. I certainly would not like to play for everything in the last game against Italy.

"If we play as well as in the game against USA, I believe we will win."

The AC Milan defender believed the Black Stars, whose World Cup debut ended in a 2-0 defeat by Italy, present a tougher obstacle than the Americans.

He said: "They will be totally different team than USA. Americans wanted to outplay us with physical football, which did not happen. Ghana have better technical skills and they like to keep the ball.

"We will be playing against tough opponents. We saw their game on video and their footballers are of high quality. They play in Europe and I know Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Ali Muntari. It will be a difficult match."

Chelsea's Michael Essien is the fulcrum of the side in central midfield and the Czechs' own star in that department, Pavel Nedved, is certainly not expecting an easy ride.

"Their midfield is one of few midfields that can be compared to ours," said Nedved.

Filling the striking berths is proving to be a headache for coach Karel Bruckner however, with first-choice pair Jan Koller and Milan Baros both unfit.

Bruckner would give no clues as to whether either was likely to return before the group stages are completed, but it would be no surprise if the veteran Vratislav Lokvenc was handed a start, with Marek Heinz also in the frame.

The goalkeeping position is of no concern however as Chelsea's Petr Cech is arguably the best in the world, at just 24.

Cech was too modest to comment on such a suggestion when it was put to him, but he was clear on another issue.

He said: "We are three points away from qualification. We have three and we need another to be sure. It has never happened that somebody has qualified with three points so we need to take another step forward."