Ghana midfielder Albert Adomah, who starts on the substitutes bench, has come an awful long way in a short space of time. Seven years ago he was playing in the Isthmian Premier League for Harrow Borough.

At the last World Cup the 26-year-old had just finished a season in League Two with Barnet and says he spent the summer "playing both park and 5-a-side football."

Now he is an established member of Ghana's squad, playing alongside one of his heroes, Michael Essien. Who says dreams don't come true?

BBC World's Alex South in Natal: "The stereotype of saying Americans not caring about football may have to start changing, on the evidence of the massive support Jurgen Klinsmann's side have here.

"Huge turn out from the red, white and blue who are hoping they can get some revenge over Ghana for putting them out of the last two World Cups."

From Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Phoenix to Philadelphia, San Francisco to Sacramento, Klinsmann's decision to omit Donovan dominates the back pages and phone-ins in the United States.

Donovan has five World Cup goals which, before the 2014 edition started last week, was as many as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robin van Persie.

Klinsmann felt other players were a "little step ahead" of Donovan but it could be a stick that is used to beat the manager with unless they pull off the unexpected and qualify from a group containing Germany and Portugal.

Further more, Donovan's replacement in the USA squad is 19-year-old midfielder Julian Green, who has just three minutes of first-team action for Bayern Munich. Donovan is a veteran of three World Cups, 156 caps and 57 international goals.

This is Ghana's third successive World Cup.

But that's small fry compared to the United States, who are appearing in their seventh straight tournament. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann knows what it takes to win a World Cup having been part of the triumphant German team in 1990.

But Klinsmann arrives in Brazil under pressure having axed the USA's record goalscorer Landon Donovan.

Ghana might have gone out of the 2010 World Cup in gut-wrenching fashion but they won an army of new admirers, including Brendan Rodgers.

The Liverpool manager invited Black Stars manager James Kwesi Appiah to Anfield earlier this year for a "knowledge sharing trip". Will the the Africans light up Brazil the same way the Reds dazzled on the 2013-14 Premier League stage?

Here's the Ghana team arriving at Estadio das Dunas in Natal. The likes of Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan were signing and dancing as they made their way off the team coach to the dressing room.

The World Cup truly is alive and kicking. Maybe Steven Gerrard will copy the Black Stars and inspire England's players to do the same before their crucial match with Uruguay on Thursday.

Video: Ghana make musical arrival

Mark Lawrenson
Football analyst in Brazil

"If Portugal fall flat, then that leaves the door open for one of these teams and, having spent a bit of time with United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann, I am backing them to make it out of the group.

"The US will be so well prepared and their team spirit is second to none. I think they will see off Ghana and reach the last 16."

BBC World Service reporter Seth Bennett in Natal: "USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann told me that the tropical rain storms of the last 48 hours here in Natal have not impacted on his side's preparations.

"So much rain fell that some houses washed away and streets closed because of damage. Amazingly no one was hurt. The pitch is soggy but it looks in good shape considering the battering it has taken."

It's been raining hard in Natal. Very hard. But Ghana's players don't care. They've just turned up at the ground wearing big smiles and singing. They clearly didn't watch Iran versus Nigeria.

Ghana: Kwarasey, Gyan, Opare, Atsu, A. Ayew, Muntari, J. Ayew, Rabiu, Mensah, Asamoah, Boye.

USA: Howard, Bradley, Besler, Beasley, Dempsey, Bedoya, Jones, Beckerman, Altidore, Cameron, Johnson.

Image source, Getty Images

Agony, heartbreak, torment, anguish. . . . .Ghana experienced it all in 2010 as they were denied what would have been an historic World Cup semi-final place by Uruguay on penalties.

But the Black Stars are back. They have a score to settle and are determined to repeat their exploits in South Africa despite being drawn in the same group as heavyweights Germany and Portugal.

First up it's the USA, a must-win game if the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng are to shine in Brazil.

USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann looks set to persist with a diamond formation that gives midfielder Michael Bradley an advanced role.

Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will start upfront.

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah must decide whether to pick Jordan Ayew after he scored a hat-trick in last week's warm-up match against South Korea.

Majeed Waris tore a thigh muscle in that game and is not expected to play.