Gordon Williams, Contributor
FULLER, HUE, BECKHAM AND GERRARD
MANCHESTER, England:
WHILE JAMAICA view today's friendly football international here as an historic meeting, pitting the colonialists against their former subjects, England hardly seemed preoccupied on the eve of the game with any threat the Reggae Boyz plan to offer, instead setting their eyes firmly on the World Cup, which begins in less than a week.
When asked, yesterday, what he knew about Jamaica's team and how he planned to tactically counter the Reggae Boyz when the game kicks off at 2 p.m. (8 a.m. local time) at Old Trafford, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson credited the pace and strength of the players, but appeared out of touch with Jamaica's recent fortunes off the pitch, which could directly affect the outcome of the match.
"I saw some of the tapes that they (Jamaica) played against Ghana and some other teams and I think they are physically strong," Eriksson told The Gleaner in a one-on-one interview at the stadium, "a lot of quick players."
"It is a small nation, but a beautiful nation and I think they're doing very well," added the man who will lead England for the final time at home before stepping down after the World Cup in Germany. "They have a lot of good players."
But when pressed how England would approach the game, the first international meeting ever between the countries, Eriksson said the focus was more on getting ready for a run at the world title England last won in 1966.
OUR WAY
"Tactically we're going to try to play our way, play the way we want to play against Paraguay in the first match of the World Cup (on June 10)," he said.
His main concern about Jamaica's team turned out to be a player who would not even be on the pitch, or possibly in the stadium at all, during today's game. Eriksson seemed totally unaware that Watford striker Marlon King, who he said impressed him, had been dismissed from Jamaica's squad on Wednesday for violating team disciplinary rules.
"He won't be there? Oh yeah?" he asked surprised. "I'm sorry. But he is very good. He had a very good season."
Eriksson's casual approach appeared in stark contrast to Jamaica's.
While the England coach said right fullback Gary Neville, who is nursing a sore hamstring, would sit out today's game as a precautionary measure, Jamaica had put another spin on the match. Earlier in the week, former national player Darryl Powell called the England clash a "big, big game for Jamaica's football". But yesterday, Jamaica Football Federation president, Crenston Boxhill, elevated the stakes.
"This game means so much to us, those of us who know the history behind the two nations, considering of course that Jamaica is a former colony of England; England being the mother country so to speak," Boxhill explained during a press conference at the team's hotel.
"...This game is a significant game for the entire nation, and of course the players," he added later.
SCARE
Without King, Jamaica were expected to start Ricardo Fuller alongside Luton Shelton up front. But the Reggae Boyz received a scare yesterday when Fuller crumpled to the ground and lay motionless for an extended time during the team's final training session. After he was treated by the team doctor he rose to his feet in the midst of concerned teammates who had gathered around him, flexed his leg, and continued.
That aside, technical director Wendell Downswell may make a couple other changes to the starting team, although he appears to retain the 4-4-2 formation. Jermaine Taylor could replace inconsistent Khari Stephenson in central midfield, while Jermaine Hue takes over on the left side of midfield. Neither Taylor nor Hue played in the 4-1 loss to Ghana. Deon Burton has replaced King in the squad.
England, meanwhile, are expected to retain much the same team that beat Hungary 3-1 on Tuesday. Along with Neville, star forward Wayne Rooney is also out with an injury.
PROBABLE STARTING TEAMS:
Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts (captain), Claude Davis, Damion Stewart, Garfield Reid, Omar Daley, Jermaine Taylor, Jason Euell, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Jermaine Hue, Luton Shelton and Ricardo Fuller.
England: Paul Robinson, Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard, David Beckham (captain), Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Michael Owen.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
