NATIONAL senior women’s football team Head Coach Lorne Donaldson says the gap is closing between bigger and smaller nations in women’s international football.

The Reggae Girlz claimed their first-ever point at a Fifa Women’s World Cup in a 0-0 draw with France in Sydney on Sunday. The result is another in a series of narrow scorelines between tournament favourites and teams considered underdogs, since the tournament began on Thursday.

“I think the understanding of everything — starting from the diet to the coaching to the physical training — the smaller countries are getting an understanding,” Donaldson said after the game. “We might not have the resources the big countries do in terms of equipment and travel and games but there’s an understanding there with coaches and technical staff. Our preparation is a little bit better.

“The last time we were here, I don’t think our preparation was that great.”

Additionally Donaldson, who was the team’s assistant coach to Hue Menzies at the previous World Cup in 2019, says there are players whom he describes as “good” coming through the ranks now, and this is making a difference.

“Once upon a time the US [United States of America] by far was very, very dominant, and you can see the gap is closing,” he said. “The smaller nations are actually jumping on that bandwagon, saying, ‘We can do this too.’

“I just think that the smaller nations are believing that they can get this done.”

Donaldson says in spite of being ranked 43rd in the world, Jamaica did not enter the game with any fear of playing France, who are ranked fifth.

“We came here believing we can get something out of the game,” he said. “That’s a fantastic French team and they’re number five in the world, and we always tell our players to not worry about the rankings. We know if we come out and play hard [we’d get a result].”

The game itself was not filled with many clear chances on goal. And while France had more possession of the ball, Jamaica held its shape in defence throughout and did well to match the France attackers who utilised crosses from the wings to striker Kadidiatou Diani, who was their most threatening player in front of goal.

Jamaica’s only shot on target was a second-half header from striker Cheyna Matthews, which was easily dealt with by France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. But their best chance to score came from a powerful free kick hit by Captain Khadija Shaw in minute 40. Although the effort was not on goal it was not far away, and forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into putting a hand to the shot to ensure it turned away from goal.

Shaw found herself in a physical battle for 90 minutes, especially with opposing Captain Wendie Renard. There were a number of times it took two or three players to keep her out of action but Shaw had her moments where she imposed herself on her opponents. But two of these saw her cautioned, meaning she misses Jamaica’s next game, against Panama on Saturday.

In spite of her dismissal, Donaldson complimented her performance.

“Even though she got a red card she was fantastic tonight,” he said. “She gave it everything.”

Jamaica is second in Group F on one point, like France, with Brazil and Panama (the group’s other teams) set to face each other in their opening match on Monday at 6 am Jamaica time.

Group G is also in action on Monday with Italy versus Argentina at 1 am, then Group H gets underway with Germany and Morocco meeting at 3:30 am, then Colombia face South Korea at 9 pm.