The Jamaica national football team (Reggae Boyz) take on Panama today in Panama City knowing that a win is the only option on the cards. Less than a win and not only does the dream of a place in the World Cup in Brazil next year go up in smoke, but the whole development of the game in the country could be in jeopardy.
The Jamaica national football team (Reggae Boyz) take on Panama today in Panama City knowing that a win is the only option on the cards. Less than a win and not only does the dream of a place in the World Cup in Brazil next year go up in smoke, but the whole development of the game in the country could be in jeopardy.
The ‘Boyz’ go into the game with a new look forward line since the last game ,with the recall of strikers Marlon King and Luton Shelton plus the much awaited inclusion of local based, Waterhouse hitman Jermaine “Tuffy” Anderson. Not only does the team have a new set of strikers to choose from, they also have a new coach in German Winfried Schafer whose previous accomplishments including taking Cameroon to the World Cup in 2010.
Aware that the team has to do something differently to start scoring goals, the German will also be changing the formation to strengthen the midfield and retain possession of the football in order to create more goal scoring opportunities, which he has identified as one of the main problems of the team in previous encounters . Jamaica will be playing 3-5-2 as Schafer believes that most of the overseas players are familiar with this formation and coincidentally, this is the system the team used under Renee Simoes, the only man to take the small Caribbean nation to the World Cup.
The match between Panama and Jamaica is a bottom of the table clash and neither team can afford to drop any more points. This should result in a very open game as both teams hunt 3 valuable points in the crucial encounter. With three of the six teams in the ‘Hex’ guaranteed a spot in Brazil and the fourth place team a spot in the playoff against the Oceana winners there is still a lot to play for so both sets of players should be fully motivated come game time.
“Everybody knows this game is our key match, the ambition is for three points. It’s not easy, but I’m sure if everybody gives 100 per cent we can win. I met my players in England and the United States and talked to them. Confidence is important, discipline on the field and 100 per cent for Jamaica,” Schafer was quoted as saying.
With only 2 draws from 6 previous games and four left to play, Jamaica must secure three points tonight and close the gap on Panama, who have six points, to just one.
The other games to be played in the CONCACAF group today features second place Costa Rica hosting first placed USA and third placed Mexico hosting fourth placed Honduras. Jamaica will be hoping that both games end in draws while securing a win themselves in order to close the gap on the teams above them.
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