Underdogs Jamaica tackle nervous Canada in 1st leg of Olympics qualifier
Underdogs Jamaica resume the hunt for the 2024 Olympic Video games glory after they welcome reigning champions Canada to Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium for the primary recreation of their two-game Playoff collection on Friday.
Kick-off is slated for 8:00 pm (EST) with the return leg on the sold-out BMO Area in Toronto, Canada, set for subsequent Tuesday at 7:00 pm (EST).
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The winner on mixture over the 2 video games goes to the Olympic Video games subsequent yr in Paris, France, however whether it is tied the staff with extra away targets advances.
If the 2 groups are nonetheless tied, half-hour of additional time will likely be performed subsequent Tuesday, adopted by a penalty shootout if essential.
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz are deserving underdogs on this contest, having misplaced all 9 earlier encounters towards the North People, scoring simply as soon as, whereas conceding 60 occasions, together with a 3-0 thumping within the CONCACAF W Championship semi-finals in Mexico in July 2022.
Canada went on to lose the ultimate 0-1 to the USA, who claimed the lone direct berth.
A 3-time medallist on the Olympic Video games, together with gold on the Japan version in 2021, Canada would have thought the outcome a mere formality a yr in the past, however now it seems a excessive stakes affair.
Jamaica, Canada heading in reverse instructions
This yr has not been a very good one for them, and although boasting higher pedigree, the 2 groups seem like heading in reverse instructions.
Whereas the Reggae Girlz have excelled on the current FIFA Ladies’s World Cup Finals in New Zealand and Australia, having certified for the Spherical of 16 for the primary time after ending second within the group stage to France. On that historic run they drew with South American champions Brazil and condemned them to an early elimination.
Jamaica conceded simply as soon as within the match, after 0-0 outcomes towards FIFA quantity five-ranked France and quantity eight-ranked Brazil, and a 1-0 win towards Panama.
The Lorne Donaldson-coached staff then misplaced 0-1 to Colombia within the knockout spherical. The Jamaicans have since risen to quantity 37 ranked on the planet.
Extra on Reggae Girlz on the Ladies’s World Cup
Alternatively Canada endured an early departure from Down Below after dismal performances.
They drew with Nigeria 0-0, defeated the Republic of Eire 2-1 and needing solely a draw to advance to the Spherical of 16, they succumbed 0-4.
In seven matches so far in 2023, Canada has received simply twice, drawn as soon as and misplaced 4 occasions, scoring a paltry 5 targets whereas transport in 12.
Donaldson cautious of wounded Canada
They’ve slipped from seventh place to 10th on the FIFA World Rating and have been compelled into some soul looking.
For Donaldson, who has declared all his gamers out there for Friday’s contest, the performances of the groups on the international showpiece occasion is now historical past and could have little bearing on the primary leg.
“We will’t watch the outcomes of Canada as a result of they’re the defending champions and there’s a cause why they received as a result of Canada are all the time within the prime 4, 5 – 6 [teams] on the planet, so going to a World Cup and never performing properly truly bodes properly for them as a result of they’ve some gamers like a Lawrence [Ashley] and a Fleming [Jessie] and some gamers who weren’t on the World Cup and they’re starters and massive time gamers for Canada. They are going to come and they’re going to give a very good account of themselves,” Donaldson instructed the media through the Reggae Girlz last coaching session on Thursday.
The gamers assembled in Jamaica on Monday however encountered difficulties which delayed their first coaching session and ruffled a number of feathers on the camp. However they look like making the perfect of the scenario.
Now the top coach desires a full home contained in the match venue on Friday, particularly with information filtering by way of that the BMO Area in Toronto is already bought out.
“What we have to ask Jamaica, are we a lover of soccer or are we a soccer nation? And I believe we love soccer and love to speak about it. When was the final time we see a soccer recreation or something bought out on the Stadium [National] besides Champs?
“We love sports activities however I imply I used to play schoolboy soccer and I watched Jamaica [Reggae Boyz] play the opposite day and I performed within the Stadium for KC and we had twice the quantity of crowd again within the days, so once more the inhabitants has modified and once more I don’t know if we’re priced out of it [some of the people] and I don’t fear about that, I relatively get individuals within the stadium at a low value and full it and we come and have some enjoyment.”
Canada’s head coach expects to face a stronger Jamaican staff
Canada’s Head Coach Bev Priestman has admitted that there was numerous soul-searching within the staff’s post-World Cup reflections.
And he or she envisions a tricky recreation towards a distinct Jamaica than the one her prices dismissed 3-0 over a yr in the past.
“We’re motivated as a result of clearly we wish to put the flawed proper and motivated as a result of we all know how pricey the Olympic Video games are to this group’s coronary heart.
“Publish-World Cup, I’ve had some actually, actually good particular person conversations with each single participant. We had a participant reset assembly,” she instructed the media, including that “a million per cent” of that was relating to the psychological side.
“This isn’t the identical Jamaica we confronted final yr or prior years. Now we have to respect what they did through the World Cup.
“I anticipate a tough recreation.”
Whereas Jamaica has retained all of the core group of those that went to the World Cup, Canada has referred to as up 19 of the 23.
The important thing figures stay 40-year-old captain Christine Sinclair, in addition to Lawrence, Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan, the latter trio from Chelsea in England.
Jamaica trying to Ballon d’Or finalist ‘Bunny’ Shaw to come back good
There are additionally some key gamers who’re returning to the facet after being compelled out of the World Cup by way of accidents.
Alternatively, Jamaica’s captain Khadija Shaw, who underwhelmed at her second consecutive World Cup, has to steer by instance if the Reggae Girlz are to tug off a shock outcome.
Shaw is the reigning CONCACAF Ladies’s Participant of the 12 months and nominee for the 2022-23 English League Participant of the 12 months and a finalist for the celebrated Ballon d’Or.
And whereas taking part in strong defence on the World Cup, because of sisters Chantelle and Allyson Swaby, in addition to Deneisha Blackwood, plus goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer, the Girlz had been impotent in assault, as evidenced by their lone strike in 4 video games.
Reality be instructed, they by no means created too many possibilities and for this tie towards a staff with the standard to bounce again in no unsure method, particularly at dwelling subsequent Tuesday, Donaldosn and his technical employees must strike the suitable stability and attempt to take a bonus to the cooler climes of Toronto.
The US, France, Brazil and Colombia have already certified for the Olympics and the winner of this tie will be part of two Asian and European groups, an Oceania staff and two groups from Africa to make up the 12 which is able to take part.
The Jamaica staff will likely be chosen from: Sydney Schneider, Rebecca Spencer, Liya Brooks, Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Konya Plummer, Deneisha Blackwood, Tiernny Wiltshire, Tiffany Cameron, Vyan Sampson, Drew Spence, Atlanta Primus, Khadija Shaw, Jody Brown, Solai Washington, Kameron Simmonds, Trudi Carter, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Cheyna Matthews, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Kayla McKenna, Sashana Campbell.
Canada’s staff will likely be chosen from: (Goalkeepers) Sabrina D’Angelo, Lysianne Proulx, Kailen Sheridan; (Defenders) Kadeisha Buchanan, Gabrielle Carle, Sydney Collins, Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence, Bianca St-Georges, Jade Rose, Shelina Zadorsky; (Midfielders) Marie-Yasmine Alidou D’Anjou, Simi Awujo, Jessie Fleming, Julia Grosso, Quinn (previously Rebecca, a transgender and non-binary); (Midfielder-Ahead) Olivia Smith; (Forwards) Annabelle Chukwu, Jordyn Huitema, Cloe Lacasse, Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince, Christine Sinclair, Evelyne Viens.
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