REGGAE Boyz coach Rudolph Speid says the players are ready to fight for a place in the World Cup as they prepare to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) next Tuesday in the intercontinental playoffs final.
Jamaica kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after scoring a 1-0 win over New Caledonia in the playoffs semifinal in Mexico on Thursday night. Bailey Cadamarteri netted the all-important goal 18 minutes into the match, stabbing home a loose ball from six yards after New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine parried Ronaldo Webster’s low free kick.
“They are a good team. They are ranked higher than us (DR Congo 48th, Jamaica 70th). They have gone through some pretty important teams in the African Nations, plus they defeated a team like Nigeria to be here.
“So I think they are a really good team and they have a lot of similarities to us, physical, fast,” he pointed out.
“I expect everybody to be firing 100 per cent (next Tuesday) because the prize is a huge prize. Lots of money waiting for the winners, pride and just the national pride for the country that goes to the World Cup. Both teams will give 100 per cent. We’ll give our best. I know it’s going to be difficult but we are up for the fight.”
Speid was impressed with his team’s pressing throughout Thursday night’s match. He also thought they should have scored more goals.
“I thought we were aggressive. We pressed in the midfield and we pressed on all occasions and tried to win the ball back as much as possible and I think that helped us,” he said post match.
“The first half we were really good. I think we should have scored more goals. The second half, once we started making changes the synchronisation was out and New Caledonia being down, didn’t have anything to lose.
“So they threw everything at us but sometimes that’s how the game goes. We had to defend with our lives to hold on to the lead,” Speid said.
Although the Reggae Boyz wasted a number of good opportunities to add to their score, they also conceded a few chances, but New Caledonia were kept off the board by the reliable Andre Blake in goal and Speid praised the brilliance of the Jamaican ‘shot stopper’.
“You mean captain fantastic,” Speid responded when asked about Blake’s performance. “That’s what he has been over the years. I have been looking at some stats for Andre and they said based on his career he should have conceded 30 more goals over his long career.
“So you know the type of keeper that we have. He is one of those that gives you wins by himself. We hope he has one more in him,” he said.
