By Tym Glaser, Associate Sport EditorJAMAICA CAN expect no favours from the United States when they meet in tomorrow night's key CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, a former United States soccer great has warned.
While the Reggae Boyz must win in the chilly northern U.S. city to guarantee a place in the final group-of-six phase of Germany 2006 qualifying, the Americans are already through and there is a feeling that the hosts may ease their foot off the pedal or at least blood a few youngsters with nothing to lose.
However, Roy Wegerle, one of the U.S.'s first top international players, said his old side, which has never lost to Jamaica, would not be "taking it easy" against the Reggae Boyz.
"They may not play their strongest team but when you bring players in that aren't regular starters, they want to go out there an play well and impress the coaching staff," said Wegerle, who was in the island at the weekend for the Celebrity Players Tour Jamaica Classic golf tournament staged at the St. James courses of Half Moon, White Witch and Cinnamon Hill.
"These new guys will be hungry and could probably do even better than the regular players. If I was Jamaica, I would not be expecting an easy game at all," said the 40-year-old who played 41 games and struck seven goals for the U.S. in an injury-hit career.
"Also, I think the U.S. sees Jamaica as a very dangerous team and one they would not particularly want to have to play again. So, to knock them out now would certainly be to the team's advantage," he said.
A VERY DANGEROUS TEAM
"I think Jamaica are the No. 3 team in the region and to get them out of the way before the final stage would make things easier in the final round. Jamaica are, to me, more consistent than Costa Rica and a very dangerous team because they have so much talent. On average, I would bet on Jamaica more than Costa Rica. I'm sure they (the U.S.) would much rather El Salvador or Panama advance than Jamaica."
Wegerle was at the vanguard of the surge of football in the U.S. and now rates the team as the region's best.
"For years and years it was Mexico, but I think the U.S. is the top team now. If we played them 10 times, I would say we would now win seven. The results over the past few years speak for themselves and I think the team will just keep improving," the South Africa-born forward said.
Wegerle was one the first American players to make a mark playing abroad. In an almost 10-year career in England, he played with Chelsea (then Second Division), Swindon Town, Luton, Queen's Park Rangers, Blackburn and Coventry. His list of teams was only surpassed by knee operations nine.
However, his pioneering ways opened the door for his compatriots.
LEARNING OVER THERE
"More and more Americans are playing in Europe now," Wegerle said. "When I joined the U.S. national team in '92, there were only two or three of us myself and John Harkes and Eric Wynalda playing second division in Germany. Now you look and see a whole lot playing in Europe. They are learning over there and bringing that knowledge back and that's making a very strong team. At the last World Cup, they were not that far away from the very top teams."
Wegerle, who retired after the 1998 World Cup in France, contemplated going into coaching before deciding to pursue his dream a card on the U.S. PGA golf Tour.
"I'm too much into golf now," the scratch player said. "I play every day. Two years ago I went for my card and made it through to the second round where I got knocked out," he said. "I didn't go this year because I didn't play enough in the summer because I was injured but I will go for it again next year."
Qualifying for the U.S. PGA Tour is said to be one of the most stressful sporting experiences around. So what's tougher Q School or taking a penalty in a key football match?
"I'm asked that often and the answer's simple. There's no comparison between a team sport and an individual sport. In a team sport you let down yourself, your team and sometimes your country if you fail.
"In an individual sport, it's just yourself," he said.
