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Klinsmann: Jamaica game a 'giveaway'
United States coach Juergen Klinsmann has described Jamaica's win over the Americans in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers as a "giveaway", but promises an improved defensive showing in the final round.
The Reggae Boyz celebrated a first-ever win, at the senior level, over their more highly rated northern neighbours last month, following a 2-1 triumph at the National Stadium in a home and away semi-final tie. The Americans took the early lead through talismanic striker Clint Dempsey but were pegged back by two set-piece goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton. The Americans won the return leg of the qualifier 1-0 in Columbus, Ohio. The result was the only clear sheet for the United States, who conceded 6 goals during the campaign, the same number as the Jamaicans.
"We expected a very difficult qualifying campaign and that's what it is. We didn't necessarily get it down to the wire in the first stage, but that's how football works. If you give away a game, like we did in Jamaica, then you have to pay the price for it a little while and you have to correct it," Klinsmann told the Reuters news agency, following a win over Guatemala on Tuesday.
"The next round will be even tougher. You have very good teams in there, every game will be a battle, every game will be a fight and we are ready for that," said Klinsmann.
The United States advanced as winners of Group A, along with the second-place Jamaica, who booked their spot in the final round following a 4-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda, in a tense affair on Tuesday night. The teams will join runaway Group B winners Mexico and second-place Costa Rica, and Group C winners Honduras and second-place Panama in the final round, which will kick off in February of next year. The top three teams will advance to the World Cup finals, while the fourth-place team will play off with the winner of the Oceania Football Confederation.
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/2012...s/sports1.html
The Reggae Boyz celebrated a first-ever win, at the senior level, over their more highly rated northern neighbours last month, following a 2-1 triumph at the National Stadium in a home and away semi-final tie. The Americans took the early lead through talismanic striker Clint Dempsey but were pegged back by two set-piece goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton. The Americans won the return leg of the qualifier 1-0 in Columbus, Ohio. The result was the only clear sheet for the United States, who conceded 6 goals during the campaign, the same number as the Jamaicans.
"We expected a very difficult qualifying campaign and that's what it is. We didn't necessarily get it down to the wire in the first stage, but that's how football works. If you give away a game, like we did in Jamaica, then you have to pay the price for it a little while and you have to correct it," Klinsmann told the Reuters news agency, following a win over Guatemala on Tuesday.
"The next round will be even tougher. You have very good teams in there, every game will be a battle, every game will be a fight and we are ready for that," said Klinsmann.
The United States advanced as winners of Group A, along with the second-place Jamaica, who booked their spot in the final round following a 4-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda, in a tense affair on Tuesday night. The teams will join runaway Group B winners Mexico and second-place Costa Rica, and Group C winners Honduras and second-place Panama in the final round, which will kick off in February of next year. The top three teams will advance to the World Cup finals, while the fourth-place team will play off with the winner of the Oceania Football Confederation.
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/2012...s/sports1.html
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