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Once again the Reggae Boyz return to a now familiar situation of ‘sink of swim.’ Not even a win against Canada at the “Office” tonight assures them of advancing to the final stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, but they are ready to give it their best shot. The first whistle is at 8:00pm.
"We don't want to wait on the Mexico-Honduras game, we have to play our game and put away the chances," Whitmore told JamaicaWIN.com last night as the Reggae Boyz cooled down after their final training session at the National Stadium. "The most important thing is all the players we have invited know the significance ... and they are all ready to deliver. We want to take it one goal at a time.
"The team is mentally and physically ready and the players know what they have to do to get to the next phase".
Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica remain in the running for two spots in Group B, with the latter two clashing simultaneously at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
Mexico leads with 10 points and is virtually assured of a berth in the final round. Even with a loss it could advance, thanks to a healthy goal difference. Honduras is second with nine and can clinch a berth with a win, or a draw also thanks to goal difference. Jamaica has seven points.
A Mexico win or a big Honduras win would work in Jamaica’s favour, while a draw would see Jamaica needing seven goals to overcome the goal difference.
After scoring only three goals in their last five games, coach Whitmore, who has rescued Jamaica’s World Cup hopes with 1-0 wins over Mexico and Honduras, is turning to a more attacking formation with his three in-form strikers leading the charge for goals.
"We have a Marlon King in the team now and together with a Fuller (Ricardo) and a Shelton (Luton), I know that they are capable and I don't want to leave any stone unturned... we want to play with our strongest attacking team."
He wants the players to utilize their vast experience during the game. "We will play our game, be patient and not try to score from half-line every time. We have the players in midfield and in attack who can do the job and get the goals, one at a time," he said.
He added: "We want to put away our chances because I know we are going to miss some, but we don't want to depend on Mexico; we want to do what we have to do here."
Whitmore said the final 11 will not be known until game time, but at the final training session he had Donovan Ricketts in goal, Tyrone Marshall, Claude Davis, Ian Goodison and Demar Phillips in the back line. Captain Ricardo Gardner and Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the outside of the returning Rudolph Austin in midfield, with Fuller, King and Shelton hunting up front.
Coach of Canada who are already eliminated after scoring only two points in five games, Dale Mitchell, says his young team is ready to do their best.
"We cannot not give of our best," he said recently. "If Jamaica go out, play well and win, credit to them. But we want to win and if we can it would be great.
"It's always tough when you know that you are out, but we have a good group of youngsters who are excited to prove themselves and the hope is that they will deliver."
"We know that it is going to be a tough match because Jamaica has done a good job of putting themselves in a position where the last game matters to them. But I think we have some young guys who are motivated to do well and we have some guys that have been with us through the campaign who I think will want to finish with a good show, so we wait to see what happens on Wednesday," he concluded.
"We don't want to wait on the Mexico-Honduras game, we have to play our game and put away the chances," Whitmore told JamaicaWIN.com last night as the Reggae Boyz cooled down after their final training session at the National Stadium. "The most important thing is all the players we have invited know the significance ... and they are all ready to deliver. We want to take it one goal at a time.
"The team is mentally and physically ready and the players know what they have to do to get to the next phase".
Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica remain in the running for two spots in Group B, with the latter two clashing simultaneously at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
Mexico leads with 10 points and is virtually assured of a berth in the final round. Even with a loss it could advance, thanks to a healthy goal difference. Honduras is second with nine and can clinch a berth with a win, or a draw also thanks to goal difference. Jamaica has seven points.
A Mexico win or a big Honduras win would work in Jamaica’s favour, while a draw would see Jamaica needing seven goals to overcome the goal difference.
After scoring only three goals in their last five games, coach Whitmore, who has rescued Jamaica’s World Cup hopes with 1-0 wins over Mexico and Honduras, is turning to a more attacking formation with his three in-form strikers leading the charge for goals.
"We have a Marlon King in the team now and together with a Fuller (Ricardo) and a Shelton (Luton), I know that they are capable and I don't want to leave any stone unturned... we want to play with our strongest attacking team."
He wants the players to utilize their vast experience during the game. "We will play our game, be patient and not try to score from half-line every time. We have the players in midfield and in attack who can do the job and get the goals, one at a time," he said.
He added: "We want to put away our chances because I know we are going to miss some, but we don't want to depend on Mexico; we want to do what we have to do here."
Whitmore said the final 11 will not be known until game time, but at the final training session he had Donovan Ricketts in goal, Tyrone Marshall, Claude Davis, Ian Goodison and Demar Phillips in the back line. Captain Ricardo Gardner and Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the outside of the returning Rudolph Austin in midfield, with Fuller, King and Shelton hunting up front.
Coach of Canada who are already eliminated after scoring only two points in five games, Dale Mitchell, says his young team is ready to do their best.
"We cannot not give of our best," he said recently. "If Jamaica go out, play well and win, credit to them. But we want to win and if we can it would be great.
"It's always tough when you know that you are out, but we have a good group of youngsters who are excited to prove themselves and the hope is that they will deliver."
"We know that it is going to be a tough match because Jamaica has done a good job of putting themselves in a position where the last game matters to them. But I think we have some young guys who are motivated to do well and we have some guys that have been with us through the campaign who I think will want to finish with a good show, so we wait to see what happens on Wednesday," he concluded.