Day of decision

Lowe, left,... Jamaica's top marksman, and Alberto Garcia Aspe... Mexico's captain.

Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

ELEVEN men backed by a 36,000 strong crowd will resume battle at 4 o'clock this afternoon in the hunt for a place in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Hosts Jamaica go up against their equally desperate visitors, Mexico, as both teams hunt three vital points to be one of a trio of countries from the CONCACAF region to advance to the big dance. With eight and seven points respectively Jamaica and Mexico are in fourth and fifth places respectively and battling for a place.

Costa Rica who are on 16 points following their win over Trinidad yesterday, are almost certain to advance while the United States who lost to Honduras are still on 13 points and are still in a good position. The Hondurans (11 points) with their win created some distance between themselves and the teams which meet today.

These results make today's game even more crucial.

Jamaica's technical director Clovis de Oliveira is well aware of the situation.

"For both of us it is a vital game. I say this because Mexico have never come to Jamaica in a situation like this (needing to win to have a chance)," said de Oliveira whose team is trying to extend an unbeaten home record of 51 games (including 47 internationals).

The observation by the Brazilian is an accurate one as when the Jamaicans drew with the (former) Central American giants in 1996 and later drew with them in 1997 they were assured of their positions. Today it is a different affair as the Mexicans have brought their strongest possible team including the recovering Cuahutemoc Blanco who, last year, was savagely put out of the game by Trinidad and Tobago's Ancil Elcock.

"On our part we are aware of our responsibilities. We know how tough it will be. Every game I say will be tough but this one more than the others. This one is going to be vital for both of us. It is a game of six points - three points that we have to win and three that they are going to lose," continued de Oliveira who added that efforts will have to be tripled for his team to have a chance.

Like de Oliveira, new Mexican coach Javier Aguirre sees no tomorrow if his team does not take all three points. "We need to win because we just have seven points and there are just four games to go so we have very little chance if we lose. We have to win...there is no future...if we don't win," said the determined Mexican who took his team to the recent Copa America final.

Aguirre said that playing away from home puts his team at a disadvantage. Among the factors that his team will have to adjust to according to him are "the condition of the field, the atmosphere, the people, the crowd and of course the Jamaican players."

Despite that Aguirre said he is confident of victory.

"I am new with this national team and I have had just had one game in the qualifiers but we beat the United States so we are very confident of winning against Jamaica.

"It will be 11 against 11 on the field so we have to keep a good shape. We want to keep the ball and to score early. We have to do a lot of things (correctly)," he continued.

The Mexican technical director is looking to their successful Copa America campaign to be of benefit to his team today. "It was a good Copa America for us because I got the chance to watch a couple of players that I never had in the team before. We lost to Colombia in the final but we do not care about that. We only care about the game today and I have 22 players that are very ready."

For the Jamaican team, de Oliveira said he has been doing his home work and has been preparing his team to counter the strengths of the Mexicans.

"We have been doing a lot of work on the tactical aspect. I went to Mexico and saw the game they played against Liberia. They scored five goals and four were from headers.

"They are a very strong team with the high balls and down the flanks and we have to be aware of that. I can also mention their technical quality of their midfield but we have been training all week to counteract that but we have our strengths too and they know that."

When both teams met at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium earlier this year, Mexico won 4-0 and exploited Jamaica's weakness in the air and poor wingback play.

That experience is behind his players now de Oliveira said expressing confidence in their state of readiness.

"I am very satisfied with the spirit of the team. It is one of the strongest aspects that I have seen in the team. Myself, coach Carl Brown and Peter Cargill, we have been working on that but it is more than that. What you see from the players is even more important. Sometimes we come with stuff and the players do not respond but now it is the opposite.

"They know we have to win and they want it. Onandi Lowe likes to say coach, cool down, don't worry and Tappa (Theodore Whitmore) likes to say 'everything cris.' This is important that they are in this frame of mind.

"As usual I do not promise a victory but the players will put their heart into it and their life on the line for this victory. They are more than ready this time. They more than want to do it for themselves. They know that Jamaica need this victory."

Jamaica's probable team - goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, Chris Dawes, Linval Dixon, Frank Sinclair, Ricardo Gardner, Tyrone Marshall, Darryl Powell, Theodore Whitmore, Fitzroy Simpson, Onandi Lowe and Deon Burton.

Mexico from - Oscar Perez, Oswaldo Sanchez, Adrian Martinez, Rafael marquez, Manuel Vidrio, Melvin Brown, Ramon H. Morales, , Alberto Rodriquez, Tomas campos, Claudio Suarez, German Villa, Johan Rodriquez, Alberto Garcia Aspe, Sigifredo Mercado, Cesareo Victorino, Ramon Morales H., Francisco Palencia, Jared Borgueti, Jesus Arellano, Antonio de Nigris, Cuahutemoc Blanco and Jair Garcia.

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