World Cup 2010: Preparations? - In'l friendlies - Jamaica

[Karl]

No matches arranged for December, January or February?

There are only these FIFA available International Friendly dates before the start of our World Cup 2010 campaign -

Feb 7
March 24 -28
June 2 - 6

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New World ready to roll

With no less than 35 sides hoping to snatch up one of the 3.5 slots at South Africa 2010 on offer in the region, CONCACAF is bound to get competitive once matches commence in early 2008. Age-old rivals USA and Mexico will be favourites to finish in the first and second spots, while Costa Rica hope to keep up their fine qualifying form of late with a third straight appearance on the world stage.

On the outside looking in, though, are a good number of talented hopefuls keen on making their own history. Among them are perennial nearly men Honduras, tricky T&T, Canada, the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica, plus Panama and Guatemala.

Thinning the minnows
The first round of competition will see the 24 lowest-ranked teams in action with the aim of thinning the herd to 12 ahead of the big names' entrance into the equation.

Next up for the lucky 11 first stage winners (and St. Vincent / Grenadines who have a bye to the second phase) will be the formidable task of taking on one of the region's powers over two legs. If all goes according to plan, the big three in the region (USA, Mexico and Costa Rica) could be in for some true tests in their third round home-away round robin groups.

The regional champions USA could meet near neighbours Cuba, Guatemala and T&T, who qualified for Germany 2006, while Mexico may find themselves in for long trips to Honduras, Canada and Jamaica. Costa Rica can count on some keenly contested encounters if they meet Guyana - undefeated for 14 matches between 2004 and 2006, Panama and Caribbean champions Haiti.

The top two teams from each of the third-round groups will then move into a six-team final qualifying round, with the top three qualifying directly for South Africa 2010, and the fourth lining up in a two-legged play-off against South America's fifth finisher.

History lessons
The United States finished tops in the region ahead of fierce rivals Mexico for the first time in qualifying for Germany 2006, surely putting the heated rivalry into high gear this time around. Mexico have qualified for a regional-best 12 finals overall, but the States have been on the ascendancy since qualifying for Italy 1990 after a 40-year stint without an appearance.

Costa Rica are defending Central American champions and have qualified for the last two finals since making their world debut in 1990. They will be fancying their chances under new coach and former striking legend Hernan Medford, but do not look as formidable a side as they once were.

With the big three entrenched as favourites to return to the world stage, there is a raft of improving sides looking to break in. Trinidad and Tobago will be chief among them, even with the absence of talismanic coach Leo Beenhakker and the retirement of former Manchester United great Dwight Yorke.

A new hope
Panama have been moving from strength to strength of late. They reached the final qualifying round ahead of Germany 2006 for the first time in their history and finished runners-up to the USA at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005.

Guatemala, who only just missed out on a spot at Germany 2006, will also be hoping things go slightly better this time around and counting on their gifted goal-getter Carlos El Pescadito Ruiz. Although they are going through a rebuilding phase, Jamaica could be a squad to be wary of also as resurgent Canada hope to make their second finals appearance at South Africa 2010.

The question
Can Honduras finally live up to their billing and muscle into the world finals in South Africa in 2010?

[Karl]

Overview

Since becoming only the fourth Caribbean team to qualify for a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ when they reached France 1998, the Reggae Boyz and their throngs of colourful fans have had little to shout about. Still, known as perhaps the most naturally gifted of the islands sides in CONCACAF, the well-known birthplace of Bob Marley will be hoping to stir it up ahead of qualifying for South Africa.

Once an outpost for native skill merchants and indulgent dribbling wizards, the qualifying campaign for France '98 brought a new approach to the island's football and a massive influx of England-born and based players with Jamaican heritage. With the change in organisation and approach came increased professionalism and competitiveness. The balance, though, has proven a difficult one to maintain and long travel often causes club v country rows and a new set of problems for the national team.

In many ways, Jamaica has been in a tailspin since their high-water mark of 1998. The Germany 2006 qualifying campaign was no exception either, as the yellow-clad men failed to make an impact and finished behind USA and Panama before even reaching the final group stage. Once known as the goal kings of the Caribbean, especially at their fortress-like home ground in Kingston known as 'The Office,' the Reggae Boyz seemed to be suffering form a profound lack of scoring punch in the run-up to Germany.
With pride wounded and goals scarce, things continued to roll downhill for the Jamaicans. In 2006, they suffered the indignity of a loss to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the first group stage of the Caribbean Cup of Nations, missing out on the finals on goal difference.

The result also meant the Reggae Boyz missed out on the biannual CONCACAF Gold Cup (2007) for the first time since 2002. A freefall down the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking then followed that has seen them dip in behind the likes of Botswana and Latvia.

The Jamaicans still have a great deal of talent to choose from, but the question remains: which side will turn up when qualifying begins for South Africa. The likes of Donovan Ricketts, Ricardo Gardner, and Jason Euell all have the ability to put in a good performance on their day, but damaged confidence and a steady freefall of form and global credibility in recent years will have the side's hopes significantly damaged.

Source: FIFA.com
Written - pre matches vs El Salvador & Guatemala

[Gamma]

we've qualifed for 2010?

[Karl]

we've qualifed for 2010?

Even the big boys sometimes make a fool of selves!


...or, could it be that now the Captain is back there are those in CONCACAF that are determined to make it....

[Warlord]

Definitely need to get a few games before we play our first WC qualifiers. And I mean some meaningful games at that.

[Baddaz]

my guess is simoes will have us playing at least five games on the fifa dates... we need to be active... the strongest local squad playing as often as necessary against the best teams availale... some of the locals will make it to sa2010... simoes need to unearth some gems...

[Warlord]

my guess is simoes will have us playing at least five games on the fifa dates... we need to be active... the strongest local squad playing as often as necessary against the best teams availale... some of the locals will make it to sa2010... simoes need to unearth some gems...

The strongest local squad will not cut it alone. We are preparing for WC2010. We need to have our best teams period. This is why we need to have our best local and foreign players. They have to learn to play together and get familiar early.

I'm not sure about at least five games. I think we'd be lucky to get 5 good opponents. But we do need some games though. We are looking to the future so we have to eclipse what we've done in the past.

[Karl]

The strongest local squad will not cut it alone. We are preparing for WC2010. We need to have our best teams period. This is why we need to have our best local and foreign players. They have to learn to play together and get familiar early.

I'm not sure about at least five games. I think we'd be lucky to get 5 good opponents. But we do need some games though. We are looking to the future so we have to eclipse what we've done in the past.

Because of the last start at preparations...the hope must be that actual World Cup competition games/the elimination games will be counted among our preparatory games.

...and, yes the best available TEAM at all times!

[Warlord]

Because of the last start at preparations...the hope must be that actual World Cup competition games/the elimination games will be counted among our preparatory games.

...and, yes the best available TEAM at all times!

We can't be using WCQ as preparation games. We need to get a few good games before we look to that semi final group. I hope during the international break that the Federation schedules some games that will help the coach evaluate players and get them ready by late July/August when the semis begin.

Maybe 4 games against possibly opponents like Nigeria, Chile, Senegal, and maybe a European opponent like Croatia.

[PeeJay]

This time around for qualification WC2010

How many of us think like I do this this group comprising. Mexico, Canada, Honduras presents a harder challenge than the previous qualification, when we stumbled in Ohio and three games at the office...Panama-loss, USA-draw and Honduras-draw.

[GaryD]

"Indulgent dribbling wizards..." Noooooo. They must have the wrong country.

[Karl]

We can't be using WCQ as preparation games.

Unfortunately - We have no choice!
The time that should have been spent on preparing the TEAM was wasted by Boxhill and his administration.

We just have do what we have to do. 5, 6 or 8 matches are not enough to have had good and or complete preparation. ...but, that is just about all the matches our VERY BEST AVAILABLE TEAM Reggae Boyz shall have.

20 - 25 and above matches is what we should expect our JFF...any competent JFF to use in the period between World Cups.

I think we could be all agreed that there is just no time to get in 20 or more matches with the exclusion of our competitive matches.

We need to get a few good games before we look to that semi final group. I hope during the international break that the Federation schedules some games that will help the coach evaluate players and get them ready by late July/August when the semis begin.

Maybe 4 games against possibly opponents like Nigeria, Chile, Senegal, and maybe a European opponent like Croatia.

Agreed!
...ofcourse...there are many teams outside of those you mentioned which would fit in very well with the best we can do before World Cup 2010.

[Warlord]

How many of us think like I do this this group comprising. Mexico, Canada, Honduras presents a harder challenge than the previous qualification, when we stumbled in Ohio and three games at the office...Panama-loss, USA-draw and Honduras-draw.

I agree that the group will be a very tough one but we can get out of it with proper preparation leading up to that round. Canada is a team that generally choke and can't handle the pressure. To be honest they always bottle it in WCQ.