By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
KING... "I thrive on these games."
THE REGGAE Boyz have begun their tactical planning for the second game in the semi-final round of their 'Road to Germany' campaign against Panama at the National Stadium on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the team played a practice match against Portmore United in which it utilised different formations that would serve to help it pay attention to individual match-ups against the Panamanians.
Against the United States, for instance, the Jamaicans tried to use Micah Hyde to match-up against Landon Donovan if he was to play his regular half-back role. However that never panned out because U.S. coach Bruce Arena decided to use Donovan as an out and out striker. With coach Sebastiao Lazaroni having more time to look at the players at his disposal and more time to analyse the opponents, Jamaica should enjoy a better result than the heart-rending 1-1 draw in the U.S. outing.
With that in mind, Lazaroni organised the practice match against the top Wray and Nephew National Premier League team and got a good look at the players that he has available to him. Using a 4-3-3 formation to begin with, he looked at different scenarios aimed at counteracting the 4-4-2 formation that Panama are expected to utilise, according to the Reggae Boyz' tactical analyst, Rick Figueredo.
WHAT TO EXPECT
"You can expect the 4-4-2 from Panama, the typical Central American formation where there is a lot of running up and down the flanks to create width," Figueredo said. "What we have to pay attention to however is the match-ups that we have, the individual match-ups, so after seeing what we have here today, what we will be doing is seeing how we can best match-up, player for player, against the Panamanians," he said.
Lazaroni also explained the concept when speaking to the media after the practice match that saw the Reggae Boyz emerge inconsequential 3-2 victors over a spirited opponent.
"Tactics and more tactics, set plays and things like that are what we will be focusing on because the most important game for us right now," Lazaroni said.
"We need to pick the best quality team to try and win. They have experienced players but we must win because it is at home and it is important for our future. We watched their last game and the game before and we must be foxy and patient," he said.
Those tactics might suffer a slight set-back because Richard Langley, one of the players that Lazaroni was having a look at on Wednesday, went down in a heap and had to be taken off the field. He took no further part in the proceedings and limped badly for the duration of the training session.
According to the Reggae Boyz' team doctor, Glenton Smith, the injury might not be too serious. Langley is said to have damaged a ligament in his right knee but, while quite painful, he is expected to recover in time to be able to play against Panama on Saturday.
