Boyz must win today, and hope for favourable result in Mexico

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Jamaica’s Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign has not gone to plan.

So much so that the Reggae Boyz are dangerously close to being eliminated from the CONCACAF play-offs with four points from eight matches, that put them at the bottom of the table.

Still, they remain amazingly confident in the face of enormous odds that the great escape is possible, and that self-belief, real or perceived, will be tested this evening when the Jamaicans meet fearsome tournament leaders USA (16 points) at the 18,000-capacity Sporting Park here.

Games time is 5:30 pm.

Jamaica will not only have to deliver an unlikely victory on the Brazil-bound Americans, but they will have to hope and pray that results elsewhere go in their favour if they hope for a lifeline in a tournament that is fast slipping away.

The perfect scenario for the Boyz is to win today’s match and hope that fellow strugglers Panama and Mexico draw when both meet at high altitude Mexico City, also today.

Both teams are locked on eight points, while third-placed Honduras (11 points), host already-qualified Costa Rica (15) in San Pedro Sula.

Jamaica coach, German Winfried Schafer said a victory over the USA on their home soil is achievable, contrary to what many people may think.

“Once we play with heart we have a chance. We would love to win in the United States… in my first two matches we had draws, but in this one we would love to win,” said the veteran coach.

The German conceded that it won’t be an easy task considering the depth of the opponents and their stated desire to come very strong against the Jamaicans as they hope to give their fans victory in the last home game of the campaign.

“We must win the match, but it will be difficult as the United States have a fantastic team; the US have good players, but we have good players too,” said Schafer.

He said it was important for the Jamaicans to be at their best as they hunt victory, but also noted that the stage is set for many of them to market themselves to possibly a global audience.

“To win a match against the United States is very important. When the team wins, then you have everybody talking about the Reggae Boyz. I tell the players that this is their match and that it is important for them to play well against the United States, because many teams will want to come and sign contracts with them as maybe many club scouts will watch this match to see which player can come into their club,” said Schafer.

The former German professional player said he had engaged the Jamaicans who ply their trade in the Major League Soccer to help in developing a proper strategy to counter the Americans, who have in their ranks quality in the shape of LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan, Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore and Eddie Johnson of the Seattle Sounders, to name a few.

“Our players from the United States and I had a meeting and I asked them to talk, to tell me what they know about the American players because they know them. When we have information, we can then build a tactic against this team,” Schafer told Jamaican reporters here.

In the final analysis, the Jamaican head coach seemed set to change the 3-5-2 formation he applied in the last two matches away to Panama (0-0) and Costa Rica (1-1) in Jamaica.

“Maybe we change our system as the USA don’t play the Caribbean or the South American style, but more the European style… we will do tactical training as not everybody knows this system as we have new players,” he said.

“I have my starting team in my head, but you can never tell as a player may say he’s injured and we don’t want to risk them and send them back to their clubs injured as we have a responsibility to the club,” Schafer added.

Subject to late changes, Schafer’s tentative 11 for the game are goalkeeper DuWayne Kerr; central defenders Westley Morgan and Adrian Mariappa; left back Kemar Lawrence; right back Jermaine Taylor; left midfield Demar Phillips; right midfield Jobi McAnuff; defensive midfield Daniel Gordon; attacking midfielder Rodolph Austin, and strikers are Jermaine Johnson and Ryan Johnson.

According to Schafer, the UK-based duo of Shaun Cummings and Marvin Elliott are possible candidates for the left-back and defensive midfield positions, respectively.

“I am looking for a left defender as Demar (Phillips) is better when he plays in the attack as he moves quickly and is good one against one… I am looking to (Shaun) Cummings or Kemar (Lawrence),” said the former Cameroon coach, who succeeded Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore.

Following Wednesday’s training session at the Johnson County Community College, Phillips of Aalesund SK, Leeds United’s Austin and Houston Dynamo’s Taylor all appeared a bit sore, but team doctor Derrick McDowell and physiotherapist Rushauy Watson assured the trio is “okay” to play today.

Meanwhile, USA coach Klinsmann said his team intends to finish the qualifiers in a flurry, starting with Jamaica today.

“For the rosters against Jamaica and Panama, the thought process was the same as all the previous qualifiers. We want to win these games. We want to finish off the year on a high note, but we also want to make the game against Jamaica a special one (because) it’s our last home game of 2013.

“We have had tremendous support from all the fans throughout the country wherever we have played. We want to recognise that and give the fans a real good game and three points,” the German told the US Soccer website.

Veteran and team captain DeMarcus Beasley said though his team has qualified for the World Cup, they want to now go on and top the play-offs, so there will be no consideration of mercy for any of their remaining opponents.

“The mentality is still the same… we want to win the group. I think you can see from the players [Jurgen Klinsmann] selected for these two games that we want to finish off on a good note… we’ll pick up the pace and will be looking forward to getting to the next three points against Jamaica,” he told US Soccer website.

Jamaica will close out their Brazil 2014 campaign next Tuesday in a home game against Honduras.

From the CONCACAF play-offs, the top-three nations qualify directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals, while the fourth-placed team will play a home-and-away series against New Zealand, the winner of Oceania.

Jamaica squad — DuWayne Kerr, Daniel Gordon, Lloyd Doyley, Marvin Elliott, Jermaine Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Joel McAnuff, Darren Mattocks, Theo Robinson, Shaun Cummings, Jermaine Taylor, Westley Morgan, Alvas Powell, Adrian Mariappa, Je-Vaughn Watson, Rodolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Deshorn Brown, Richard McCallum, Gariece McPherson, Jermaine Anderson, Romario Campbell, Kemar Lawrence.

USA squad — Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando, DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljesta, Graham Zusi, Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson, Eddie Johnson.

Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson (second left) and Jobi McAnuff (left) challenge for the ball during a training session at the Johnson County Community College, on Wednesday evening. Watching the action are Jermaine Johnson (second right) and Alvas Powell.

(PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

Reggae Boyz (from left) Alvas Powell, Je-Vaughan Watson and Deshorn Brown sign autographs at the end of Wednesday evening’s training session.

(PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)