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Guatemala aim at Boyz
published: Tuesday | November 20, 2007
Gordon Williams, Contributor
Jamaica's forward Luton Shelton (Left) shields the ball from an El Salvador opponent during sunday's friendly international at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 3-0. - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer
MIAMI, United States:
Guatemala enter 'The Office' to tackle Jamaica tomorrow confident of victory, despite a shaky start and eventual 0-1 loss to Honduras in a friendly football international at the Dolphin Stadium here on Saturday night.
While midfielder Walter Martinez's 19th minute goal may have breached Guatemala's 4-5-1 formation for the game's only score, the loose marking and unsure defensive positioning, which underlined Guatemala's early first half display, gave way to a tighter, steady and more organised approach as the game progressed.
And, while Coach Hernan Dario Gomez said he was "happy" with his team's performance, he anticipates Guatemala will be much improved against Jamaica. He also plans to add a few attacking wrinkles that he hopes will pose problems for a Reggae Boyz squad under new coach and management, anxious to revive a struggling national programme.
They have order
"Guatemala know what they are doing," said Gomez through a translator following the game. "They have something. They have order. And whoever knows about football, they know that Guatemala is playing for success and are looking to win next Wednesday.
"We would like to get better," he added. "We'd like to experiment a little bit more (against Jamaica)."
His team may need to, in order to win. On Saturday the Hondurans grabbed the lion's share of ball possession, and their technical skill and movement off the ball worried Guatemala's defence consistently. Yet Guatemala avoided conceding more than Martinez's single strike and their goalkeeper Paulo Cesar Motta was forced to make only three saves on the night.
On offence, Guatemala's lone striker Dwight Pezzarossi was often a stranded spectator. Yet he did show a glimpse of his quality in the air when he rose high to powerfully meet a cross, but could only to watch in disbelief as his header was brilliantly saved by Honduras' goalkeeper Noel Valladares in the 34th minute.
Guatemala aimed eight shots at the goal and scuffed a couple scoring opportunities, but offered little consistency in terms of coordinated build-ups, despite their packed midfield. Only Gregory L. Ruiz, operating with pace and skill on both flanks, looked to threaten Honduras' defence.
DISCIPLINED
Yet Honduras' coach, Reynaldo Rueda, was impressed with Guatemala's willingness to work hard as a unit. They gradually whittled away his team's early sting on Saturday and he predicted they will offer a stern test for Jamaica.
"Guatemala is a very disciplined team," Rueda said. "They play a very collective game. They will be an excellent opponent for Jamaica."
They showed that they will not be physically bossed around on the pitch either. A hard foul by Honduras sparked a heated first half scuffle, with referee Kevin Scott showing a yellow card to a player from each team.
Gomez said he understands Jamaica's style of play and is impressed with the quality of the Reggae Boyz.
"Jamaica is as hard as Honduras," he said. "They are difficult - (Jamaica) might be more faster and more potent. They have continuity. In the Caribbean, they are probably the stronger team."
Jamaica will have to be patient in attack to break down Guatemala, whose defensive weakness appears to be against speed and skill on the flanks. On Saturday, wingbacks Claudio Alvizuris and Nestor Martinez were unconvincing as Honduras attacked through those channels to create scoring opportunities. But Gomez is not perturbed. He is banking on Guatemala's organised structure to nullify the Boyz.
Yet he is not ready to concede that Wednesday's match-up is a do-or-die affair.
Like Jamaica, he is viewing it as preparation for World Cup qualifiers next year. He said his game-time tactics will be decided after reviewing injuries suffered on Saturday, particularly to Ruiz, who got up limping after a second half challenge.
The friendly international offers the coach a chance to tinker with his squad with the ultimate tests still on the horizon.
"The real results come in June when the eliminations begin," explained Gomez, whose team could eventually see Jamaica again in CONCACAF round qualifiers.
"That will be a little bit different."
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
published: Tuesday | November 20, 2007
Gordon Williams, Contributor
Jamaica's forward Luton Shelton (Left) shields the ball from an El Salvador opponent during sunday's friendly international at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 3-0. - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer
MIAMI, United States:
Guatemala enter 'The Office' to tackle Jamaica tomorrow confident of victory, despite a shaky start and eventual 0-1 loss to Honduras in a friendly football international at the Dolphin Stadium here on Saturday night.
While midfielder Walter Martinez's 19th minute goal may have breached Guatemala's 4-5-1 formation for the game's only score, the loose marking and unsure defensive positioning, which underlined Guatemala's early first half display, gave way to a tighter, steady and more organised approach as the game progressed.
And, while Coach Hernan Dario Gomez said he was "happy" with his team's performance, he anticipates Guatemala will be much improved against Jamaica. He also plans to add a few attacking wrinkles that he hopes will pose problems for a Reggae Boyz squad under new coach and management, anxious to revive a struggling national programme.
They have order
"Guatemala know what they are doing," said Gomez through a translator following the game. "They have something. They have order. And whoever knows about football, they know that Guatemala is playing for success and are looking to win next Wednesday.
"We would like to get better," he added. "We'd like to experiment a little bit more (against Jamaica)."
His team may need to, in order to win. On Saturday the Hondurans grabbed the lion's share of ball possession, and their technical skill and movement off the ball worried Guatemala's defence consistently. Yet Guatemala avoided conceding more than Martinez's single strike and their goalkeeper Paulo Cesar Motta was forced to make only three saves on the night.
On offence, Guatemala's lone striker Dwight Pezzarossi was often a stranded spectator. Yet he did show a glimpse of his quality in the air when he rose high to powerfully meet a cross, but could only to watch in disbelief as his header was brilliantly saved by Honduras' goalkeeper Noel Valladares in the 34th minute.
Guatemala aimed eight shots at the goal and scuffed a couple scoring opportunities, but offered little consistency in terms of coordinated build-ups, despite their packed midfield. Only Gregory L. Ruiz, operating with pace and skill on both flanks, looked to threaten Honduras' defence.
DISCIPLINED
Yet Honduras' coach, Reynaldo Rueda, was impressed with Guatemala's willingness to work hard as a unit. They gradually whittled away his team's early sting on Saturday and he predicted they will offer a stern test for Jamaica.
"Guatemala is a very disciplined team," Rueda said. "They play a very collective game. They will be an excellent opponent for Jamaica."
They showed that they will not be physically bossed around on the pitch either. A hard foul by Honduras sparked a heated first half scuffle, with referee Kevin Scott showing a yellow card to a player from each team.
Gomez said he understands Jamaica's style of play and is impressed with the quality of the Reggae Boyz.
"Jamaica is as hard as Honduras," he said. "They are difficult - (Jamaica) might be more faster and more potent. They have continuity. In the Caribbean, they are probably the stronger team."
Jamaica will have to be patient in attack to break down Guatemala, whose defensive weakness appears to be against speed and skill on the flanks. On Saturday, wingbacks Claudio Alvizuris and Nestor Martinez were unconvincing as Honduras attacked through those channels to create scoring opportunities. But Gomez is not perturbed. He is banking on Guatemala's organised structure to nullify the Boyz.
Yet he is not ready to concede that Wednesday's match-up is a do-or-die affair.
Like Jamaica, he is viewing it as preparation for World Cup qualifiers next year. He said his game-time tactics will be decided after reviewing injuries suffered on Saturday, particularly to Ruiz, who got up limping after a second half challenge.
The friendly international offers the coach a chance to tinker with his squad with the ultimate tests still on the horizon.
"The real results come in June when the eliminations begin," explained Gomez, whose team could eventually see Jamaica again in CONCACAF round qualifiers.
"That will be a little bit different."
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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