Coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitemore (4th left) and assistant coach Bradley Stewart (3rd left) guide the Reggae Boyz through a training session at the National Stadium on Tuesday ahead of their do-or-die CONCACAF World Cup qualifying game against Mexico this evening. (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby)

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz with a new coach and a new belief will hope to make home advantage count when they oppose Mexico in a must-win World Cup Qualifying game here at the National Stadium at 7:00 pm today.

Rooted at the bottom of the four-team Group Two of the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup Qualifying Semi-Final Round, Jamaica have mustered only one point from three away games, the same as North American outfit Canada, who have a better goal difference.

The Group is being led by Mexico, who have a perfect record of three wins - a come-from-behind 2-1 result over Honduras, a 3-0 thrashing of Jamaica, and a 2-1 win over Canada.

Honduras are second in the group with six points from their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Canada, and their 2-0 win over Jamaica. They host Canada today in San Pedro Sula, before journeying to Jamaica for next Wednesday's contest.

Reggae Boyz tough-tackling defender Claude Davis (right) fends off a challenge from forward Omar Cummings in their training exercise at 'The Office' in preparation for tonight's must-win CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match against Mexico. (Photos: Jermaine Barnaby)

If Jamaica are to realistically harbour any hopes of advancing to the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Final Round, then they must win their remaining three games to accumulate 10 points and still hope for favourable results, especially with games involving Honduras.

Now the Boyz and their legions of fans will be looking to turn a new page and hopefully acquire much more favourable results at home under the guidance of former Reggae Boy star player, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, who replaced Brazilian technical director Rene Simoes, who was sacked following last month's loss to Honduras.

Whitmore, a man of very few words who was an assistant to Simoes, said the task at hand is simple.

"We have called a squad capable of winning this match, but come Saturday (today) we have to go out on the pitch and show the people what we are capable of," said the former Reggae Boy midfield stylist.

Reggae Boy Jermaine 'Teddy' Johnson dribbles during a training session at the National Stadium on Tuesday night ahead of the big CONCACAF World Cup qualifying clash against Mexico this evening.

"We're gunning for those three points and nothing less will be tolerated and I think the players have given me the encouragement that they can take these three valuable points," he added.

Simoes was sacked for refusing to employ Jamaica's best available senior professionals in the three previous games, and upon his promotion to the stand-in head coach job, Whitmore wrung in the changes, calling up no fewer than 19 overseas-based professionals for these two games.

However, ace striker Marlon King failed to make the long flight across the Atlantic for fear of aggravating a problematic back ailment, which forced him to miss all of last week's training with his club Hull City in the English Premiership. The player participated in the game for more than 80 minutes, but it is understood that he did so under heavy medication.

According to Whitmore, now that team has the quality players to win games, they need the supporters to come out and give them that extra boost.
"We have the team, the quality players to do it; we just need the fans to come out and support and rally behind the team. Just like when we go to Mexico or Honduras... three to five hours before the game the stadium is full... that is a motivation for their team.
"So we would like our fans to come out in their numbers and support the team the best they can," he emphasised.
Whitmore's team had a refreshing look to it during Thursday night's squad session at the National Stadium, in what appeared a 3-1-4-1-1 formation.

Donovan Ricketts was the man between the sticks and he was guarded by Tyrone Marshall, Ian Goodison and Claude Davis in defence, anchored by Oneil Thompson in deep midfield. He was flanked by Demar Phillips, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Rudolph Austin and Ricardo Gardner in midfield, with Ricardo Fuller occupying a roaming, withdrawn striker's role, with the speedy Luton Shelton as the pointman.

Captain Gardner was conspicuous with his many forays in attack on Thursday night, as was Austin, while Fuller played his role behind Shelton with a lot of mobility, intelligence and gusto.

Jamaica have done reasonably well at home against the CONCACAF kingpins, who are now coached by Swede Sven Goran Eriksson. In five matches between the two teams in Jamaica, the sides share two wins apiece and one draw.

Jamaica won 3-1 (1975 friendly) and 1-0 in and a 1996 World Cup qualifier. The latter game was won on a peach of a header from defensive stalwart, Ian 'Pepe' Goodison, the recipient of a savage, lounging studded tackle from Mexican skipper Rafael Marquez in the September 6 encounter at the Estadio Azteca, for which the Barcelona man escaped with a mere yellow card caution, instead of the obligatory red card ejection.

Mexico's wins have come from World Cup qualifiers (3-2 in 1965 and a come-from behind 2-1 win, courtesy of a brace from their great Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who recently announced his retirement from international football.

The 0-0 draw was the historic game on November 16, 1997 which enabled Jamaica to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Finals in France.

So if Thursday night's bust-up is any indication of the Boyz's eagerness to do the job and preserve their dreams of advancing to the 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup Finals, then it is obvious that the team is certainly not lacking fighting spirit.

The Jamaican squad is completed by: Shwan Sawyers, Damion Stewart, Demar Stewart, Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor, Omar Daley, Jermaine Johnson, Wolry Wolfe, Dane Richards, Omar Cummings.

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