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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 29 2004 : 10:53:11 AM
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Sean Williams - February 28, 2004
Jamaica Obsever
Like good wine, the Reggae Boyz mellowed with each passing minute in their shocking 2-0 win over two-time world champions, Uruguay, at the National Stadium last week Wednesday.
Many thought it was an inspired performance. A jewel in a king's crown, even.
The majesty of the rendition was of such that it left many speechless, and served as a yardstick for exactly where the team is as a competitor on the world stage.
It was a demonstration that Jamaica have the potential to, and can play, 'good football'. It was a true, yet early test, of our depth as we prepare for World Cup qualifiers in June.
Apart from the players proving their worth, the performance was also a testimony that technical director, Carl Brown, is quite capable of assembling a strong team and has the ability to motivate them to play well.
Johnson entertained while Marshall staked claim to the
holding midfield position.
USA-based Tyrone Marshall was imperious in that holding midfield role - a position that should henceforth be his. UK-based Ricardo Fuller, as usual, was the ultimate entertainer with his trickery, and even those who performed marginally below them were near the summit of their game.
FULLER Danced the night away
Despite the grandeur with which the Boyz embarrassed their more celebrated rivals, there were those who sought to depreciate the effort by suggesting that the Uruguayans were 'easy on us'. That's not true.
Looking ahead to their World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela next month, the 1930 and 1950 world champions were desperate to avoid a defeat against a team ranked 27 places below them. They played to their best on the day, but were beaten by the Boyz nonetheless.
We were in our element and any team, irrespective of world ranking, would have had trouble coping with the admirable skill, team-work, industry and panache that were on display. Jamaica were of the quality of world champions, albeit for a day.
Every player received a passing grade, each playing his role with the skill of a master craftsman. The 25,000 plus spectators who were on hand to see it, for the most part, were in awe, savouring every moment. They got their money's worth.
It has been argued that the game could have been one of the best ever performances from a Jamaica team in the recent past. I want to offer that it was indeed THE BEST!
Reflecting on the 1998 World Cup qualification, Jamaica performed nowhere near their last match. Yes, the 2-1 win over fellow rookies, Japan, was widely hailed, but there were cracks here and there.
Another great result was the team's 0-1 loss to five-time world champions, Brazil, but the execution went abegging. We were outclassed and outgunned.
GARFIELD REID sparkled at Left Back and should be there
until Gardner returns.
If the Boyz can repeat and maintain that classic show which they exhibited against Uruguay, I can see no reason why we shouldn't be in Germany two years down the road.
The way the team played, plus the tremendous support from the fans, may have saved not only the programme, but Carl Brown's job as technical director, as already there were whispers that his job was in jeopardy.
LOWE came of age with this performance
How could the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) justify dismissing Brown at this time when he made possibly his most profound statement to date as technical boss?
In the end, it turned out to be a great day for Jamaica's football.
The future looks bright, after all.
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Karl |
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How can the JFF fire CB after this peformance?
