The final whistle blew at Stade Auguste-Bonal in eastern France on Friday, signalling Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz’ 0-3 defeat to France in their international friendly, but Vyan Sampson’s spirits remained unwavering.

The defensive linchpin Sampson, who wore the captain’s armband, opted to concentrate on the positives, harnessing the experience to fuel future growth.

Goals from Clara Mateo (22nd minute), Captain Wendie Renard (39th minute), and Sandy Baltimore (48th minute) sealed the win for the technically skilled French side. However, the Reggae Girlz showed glimpses of brilliance, particularly in the contest’s latter stages, where they fashioned scoring opportunities.

The matchup had marked the first meeting between the two teams since the pulsating encounter during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, which ended 0-0. The result gave the Reggae Girlz their first-ever point at a World Cup.

“Playing at the World Cup is a different mentality; there are different things on the line, and so the stakes are very different,” Sampson said during a post-game interview.

“We put everything into that game [World Cup] to get a result. This friendly was a very different type of match, an international window that’s not typically important to us. It is a very busy period for everyone regardless of what league they play.

“So player management was very important. We obviously have new players coming into the group and so we need to look at them and give them a taste of international football,” the England-born Sampson further said.

Sampson acknowledged the challenges of playing against a top-tier team like France, but emphasised Jamaica’s focus on self-improvement.

“France is always a good team, but we are not looking at them too tough because we are against ourselves at the end of the day in terms of our journey. So yeah, they are a good team, but there is more to this game for us.

“I felt like we gave a good show of ourselves against a very good opposition. We could always do better, but with the short time we were in camp we had a few things to focus on. I felt like we gave them a good try,” she said.

The match had been a test of endurance, with injuries and changes affecting the outcome. However, Sampson chose to focus on the positives.

“We had a few injuries, a few different changes that obviously changed the outcome of the game, but that’s just football; we don’t look into that too hard. We just make sure we take things from this game and go from there,” the 28-year-old Sampson said.

Sampson highlighted the importance of introducing new players to the team.

“It’s always good to have new faces, and we’re always looking to build the team and improve in every way that we can. The core of the team is still pretty much the same and so it’s just about gelling those relationships and building as a team,” she noted.

She also emphasised the value of experimentation, trying new positions and strategies against top opposition. “There were players playing in positions that are not necessarily their strong point, but we have to try these things to get better.”

On a personal level, Sampson reflected on her own performance. “I felt like I did my best to cover the spaces and cover for my teammates, but I’m always a critical person, and I always want more.”

Looking ahead, Sampson emphasised the importance of long-term progress.

“Sometimes, coming into these windows, the moment we’re looking for is not now; it’s further down the line, a year down the line. So, as long as we keep making steps every window, taking a bit from every game, we’ll be where we need to be at the right time,” she said.

Jamaica defender Vyan Sampson (left) and Panama midfielder Marta Cox battle for possession during their Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group F match at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth on Saturday, July 29. Jamaica won 1-0. (Photo: AFP)