Tweet
Major shake-up in Boyz squad to face US
Monday, October 07, 2013
REGGAE Boyz coach Winfried Schafer's 23-man squad for the crucial match against the USA on Friday has five "new faces" from the the group that faced Panama and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying encounters last month.
On the flip, six players — five from the UK and one from the US MLS — have not been included.
Jamaica’s head coach, German Winfried Schafer (left) and Captain Horace Burrell at last Saturday night’s reception at the Spanish Court Hotel for the official unveiling of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)
Those making the US-bound squad are goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr, Colorado Rapids striker Deshorn Brown, Waterhouse midfielder Romario Campbell, US MLS midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson and Scandinavia-based left-sided player Demar Phillips.
Out are regular captain, the USA-based goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Turkey-based striker Luton Shelton and the UK-based quartet of forwards Marlon King and Jermaine Beckford, and midfielders/wingers Chris Humphrey and Garath McCleary.
The Jamaica Observer was told that the players were unavailable due to injuries and personal reasons.
Those included in the squad are expected to assemble in Kansas City over the course of the coming days.
Jamaica, currently at the bottom of the six-nation CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with four points, are scheduled to meet Brazil-bound USA in a must-win match at Sporting Park in Kansas on Friday. Kick-off is at 5:30 pm.
On the same day the Boyz face the USA, Honduras host Costa Rica in San Pedro Sula, while Mexico and Panama clash at high altitude Azteca in Mexico City.
Along with the USA on 16 points, Costa Rica on 15 points have also booked their Brazil 2014 World Cup spot. Honduras follow in the race with 11 points and are on the verge of clinching the third automatic qualifying spot.
Panama and Mexico, eight points each, and Jamaica are fighting for the fourth-place play-off spot.
Jamaica will close out their Brazil 2014 campaign next Tuesday in a home game against Honduras.
The top three teams will qualify directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals, while the fourth-placed team will play a home-and-away series against New Zealand, the winner of Oceania.
The local-based players and management staff depart the island today for Kansas City.
Meanwhile, US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called up 20 players to begin preparations for the next two World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica and away to Panama.
The German was quoted by US Soccer as saying: "We want to finish qualifying on a high note and prove a point in our region. We don't view these games as the end of World Cup qualifying. For us, it's the start of preparations for the World Cup, and therefore we have to continue to raise the bar. We have had such amazing support from our fans throughout the last two years, and we owe it to
them to put our best foot forward."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2h3MkFUly
Monday, October 07, 2013
REGGAE Boyz coach Winfried Schafer's 23-man squad for the crucial match against the USA on Friday has five "new faces" from the the group that faced Panama and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying encounters last month.
On the flip, six players — five from the UK and one from the US MLS — have not been included.
Jamaica’s head coach, German Winfried Schafer (left) and Captain Horace Burrell at last Saturday night’s reception at the Spanish Court Hotel for the official unveiling of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)
Those making the US-bound squad are goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr, Colorado Rapids striker Deshorn Brown, Waterhouse midfielder Romario Campbell, US MLS midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson and Scandinavia-based left-sided player Demar Phillips.
Out are regular captain, the USA-based goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Turkey-based striker Luton Shelton and the UK-based quartet of forwards Marlon King and Jermaine Beckford, and midfielders/wingers Chris Humphrey and Garath McCleary.
The Jamaica Observer was told that the players were unavailable due to injuries and personal reasons.
Those included in the squad are expected to assemble in Kansas City over the course of the coming days.
Jamaica, currently at the bottom of the six-nation CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with four points, are scheduled to meet Brazil-bound USA in a must-win match at Sporting Park in Kansas on Friday. Kick-off is at 5:30 pm.
On the same day the Boyz face the USA, Honduras host Costa Rica in San Pedro Sula, while Mexico and Panama clash at high altitude Azteca in Mexico City.
Along with the USA on 16 points, Costa Rica on 15 points have also booked their Brazil 2014 World Cup spot. Honduras follow in the race with 11 points and are on the verge of clinching the third automatic qualifying spot.
Panama and Mexico, eight points each, and Jamaica are fighting for the fourth-place play-off spot.
Jamaica will close out their Brazil 2014 campaign next Tuesday in a home game against Honduras.
The top three teams will qualify directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals, while the fourth-placed team will play a home-and-away series against New Zealand, the winner of Oceania.
The local-based players and management staff depart the island today for Kansas City.
Meanwhile, US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called up 20 players to begin preparations for the next two World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica and away to Panama.
The German was quoted by US Soccer as saying: "We want to finish qualifying on a high note and prove a point in our region. We don't view these games as the end of World Cup qualifying. For us, it's the start of preparations for the World Cup, and therefore we have to continue to raise the bar. We have had such amazing support from our fans throughout the last two years, and we owe it to
them to put our best foot forward."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2h3MkFUly
