England, Boyz to clash June 3
published: Saturday | January 7, 2006

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

It's all systems go for the historic encounter between Jamaica and World Cup top eight seed England scheduled for June 3, 10:00 a.m. local time at the historic Wembley Stadium.

The Reggae Boyz are expected to come face to face with a full-strength England squad which should include the likes of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Real Madrid?s David Beckham.

According to Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Crenston Boxhill,

the event has been two years in the making.

"We had approached England two years ago and we did not just leave it at that, we contacted them periodically and David Davis, CEO of the English FA had assured us that it would happen it was only a matter of when," he explained.

"The World Cup draw in 2006 where they were placed with Trinidad has made it easier, and helped to hasten the process. But nonetheless it is an exciting venture and we are really looking forward to it," he said.

Ten thousand of the 90,000 seats to be built in the new stadium have been allocated for Jamaican supporters to witness the occasion and cheer for the Boyz, who will be only the second team to play in the new Wembley Stadium.

National coach Wendell Downswell has in the meantime promised to have the strongest possible squad available for the occasion, a few of whom are very likely to be overseas-based players, but the local players will have their chance.

"We'll be playing a few games before that and the door will be wide open for them to display their talent and be selected," he commented. "This is our mini World Cup and we will use it to our advantage," he said.

Sven relishes showdown

England's coach Sven Goran Eriksson is also looking forward to the encounter, which will be 12 days before his team takes on first-time qualifiers Trinidad and Tobago.

"Jamaica will be similar in style to Trinidad and Tobago and they have a lot of players playing in this country like Ricardo Gardener at Bolton and Jason Euell at Charlton," Eriksson said.

"I know that this game will be a fantastic occasion as I'm sure they will be well supported," he added, referring to the huge Caribbean community which exists in England.

In addition to ticket sales, the JFF will earn US$100,000 in appearance fee, a record-high US$40,000 more than the average US$60,000 for previous appearances.