By Assistant Sport Editor, Assistant Sport Editor
Intense action from the first clash this year between Jamaica and the United States at the National Stadium in September. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. - File
COLUMBUS, Ohio :
THE UNITED States did everything the Reggae Boyz asked of them in their last match against Panama, by whipping them 6-0. But the Jamaicans did not hold their end of the bargain.
Now, Jamaica's senior footballers owe it to themselves and the nation to step up and reach the final round of CONCACAF's 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
They tackle the United States tonight knowing full well their only guarantee of making that six-team play-offs depends on them winning at the showdown at Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
"It's our survival game," Jamaica's head coach, Sebastiao Lazaroni, told reporters after his team's final training session at the match venue last night.
The Brazilian coach was not in the best of moods as the stadium staff had started turning off some of the lights because the team was past its scheduled training time.
Despite his feelings, he kept his thoughts and line of reasoning clear.
A BIG CHALLENGE
"We must keep focused in all situations," he added, calling the game 'a big challenge'.
Jamaica are contending for Group One's second qualifying spot with two other countries, Panama and El Salvador. Jamaica now occupy second place on six points, while Panama have five and El Salvador four. The U.S. have already qualified with an unassailable 11 points.
El Salvador and Panama will clash in Panama City in a match slated to kick-off simultaneously and while Jamaica could still advance with a draw, that depends on El Salvador either tying or beating their Central American counterparts.
NEVER BEATEN US
In 14 previous tries, the Boyz have never beaten the Americans and despite losing eight times, Lazaroni says this is an occasion for the team to forget all its previous results.
"We know it's a tough game but we must play our best to qualify for Germany 2006," Lazaroni said.
"We must fix our position for the next stage. We must respect the U.S. and their coach, but we must come and play our style.
"We cannot complain about anything," he added in reference to Claude Davis, Micah Hyde and Jermaine Johnson who will be missing through a combination of injuries and yellow card suspensions, adding "We must come and display quality and good team spirit. .We are here to represent Jamaica, the people, the country, we try to do our best."
The players again worked seriously in training but the passes were not fluent and the coach frequently called back plays as he sought to get things right for the big moment.
He noted that "Tomorrow, we'll talk more and more see what we can do to improve."
It seems Ricardo Fuller, Damani Ralph, Theodore Whitmore, Andy Williams, Jamie Lawrence, Tyrone Marshall, Craig Ziadie, Damion Stewart, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner and goalie Donovan Ricketts will be the ones carrying the Jamaican challenge from the start. Marlon King, the team's leading striker, and new addition Jason Euell, were given more consideration and seem likely to get a chance at the tough U.S. team which is on a 12-match unbeaten streak since February.
Their last loss came at the hands of the Netherlands 1-0 and the Boyz went close to inflicting a similar defeat before giving up an injury- time equaliser in their first-round draw in Kingston.
Bruce Arena, the U.S. coach, reckons the Jamaicans are a good team and while he made no bones about his respect for them, he made it clear that despite the fact that they have already secured safe passage, they are going to play hard.
PLAYING TO WIN
"Whether it's El Salvador and Panama it's the same thing for us: we play to win," he said after their training session yesterday, just ahead of the Boyz.
Asked if he would prefer Jamaica not making it to the next round. Arena replied: "I couldn't answer that question. I like Jamaica a lot. I don't look at this game to send Jamaica home. This is not a game where we have a bullseye on the backs of our friends in Jamaica."
He added: "Jamaica needs three points to get into the next round and they are going to play hard."
Contrastingly, U.S. forward Landon Donovan, who leads their team with five goals and as many assists in the qualifiers, stated clearly that he wants to eliminate Jamaica.
"Any time you can knock Jamaica out of the next round you're gonna do it. Period. End of story," he said.
Donovan added: "The key with Jamaica is, over 90 minutes, if you're smart and keep the ball and make them move they're going to give up chances. They lose their shape a little bit and then the key after that is to score the goals when you get the chances. I think we're going to get a lot of chances tomorrow and we've got to be good in front of the net.
"Personally, I want to eliminate Jamaica if we can, not that Panama and El Salvador are any weaker but that's (Jamaica) a team that's been around. They have lot of experienced players that play in England and if they sneak through and get to the next round they can be a good team," Donovan observed.
Donovan's likely starting partner is Eddie Johnson, who scored four goals recently, including a hat-trick in their 6-0 rout of Panama, and their long-time striker, Brian McBride.
Some good news for Jamaica maybe the absence of midfielders Damarcus, who caused the defence much problems in Kingston, and the U.S.' midfield general Claudio Reyna.
Arena declined to name a final 18 but his admission that there are available places in the squad for the next round may be enough motivation for his fringe players to try and stop the desperate Jamaicans from holding their end of the bargain again.
