[North and Central America
and Caribbean Final Qualifiers]
10 matches 3 wins 5 ties 2 losses (14 points)
| 3/2/97 | Vs. USA | Draw | 0-0 |
| 4/13/97 | Vs. Mexico | Lose | 0-6 |
| 4/24/97 | Vs. Canada | Draw | 0-0 |
| 5/11/97 | Vs. Costa Rica | Lose | 1-3 |
| 97/5/18 | Vs. El Salvador | Win | 1-0 |
| 9/7/97 | Vs. Canada | Win | 1-0 |
| 9/14/97 | Vs. Costa Rica | Win | 1-0 |
| 10/3/97 | Vs. USA | Draw | 1-1 |
| 11/9/97 | Vs. El Salvador | Draw | 2-2 |
| 11/16/97 | Vs. Mexico | Draw | 0-0 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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| Organization |
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Experience |
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| Talent |
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Capacity to surprise |
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The term miracle is truly appropriate to the feat the Jamaicans pulled off. Only independent for 36 years and the smallest state in the West Indies, their soccer federation is quiet and almost invisible. The Jamaicans were forced to retire even from the qualifiers in 1974, 1982, and 1986 for lack of funds. Even now, the executives of the soccer association themselves wonder whether or not their pro league can continue after the sunny stage in France is over.
To put it the other way, this is how much the performance of the Jamaican soccer team is a "dream come true" for the entire people of Jamaica. Amidst all this craziness, one person who has deepened his confidence in the success that is "just what I expected" and is quietly honing his tusks is coach Rene Simoes.
Simoes saw that Jamaican players had qualities equal to those of African players and in order to instill in them the strategic eye necessary for swinging their swords on the world stage, Simoes first brought in rules that were almost too strict. The foundation of the 3-5-2 system is a compact contemporary soccer linking short passes.
The defense is quite solid. The goalkeeper Barrett is cool and collected and even if the three backs come up a little short in technique, they have an amazing capacity for movement and handle covering together quite smoothly. The attack is the English league combination of the well known "Jamaica Ronald" Burton and Hall and they have a fighting spirit that will not give up. The sight of them chasing the ball all the way to the end is itself impressive. The most significant topic for the Jamaicans is the absence of a true on-field commander. If the creativity not visible up till now does not emerge, it will be difficult for the Jamaicans to make it past the preliminary round.
*JAMAICA FOOTBALL
FEDERATION
[Address]
- General Secretariat
- Room 8 Institute of Sports
- independence Park,
- KINGSTON6
[Established] 1910
*First appearance (1998) |
Deon BURTON
* Forward
This Englishman of Jamaican ancestry is the team's trump card and the striker linking the team's aspirations.
Burton is the biggest star on the team and is nicknamed "Reggae Ronald". Whereas the leader Barrett is very adult like, what Burton brings to the team is the spirit of an endlessly cheerful roughneck. Of the total of 5 goals that the Jamaicans scored in their 8 qualifying matches, Burton scored 4. Burton was born in Reading in England and is small but powerful and he inherited overflowing fighting spirit from his English mother. He is the leader of the group of players the English call "the Beatles" (the remaining members being Hall, Simpson, and Cargill). He currently plays for Darby, which paid *200 million to acquire him from Portsmith. He was the 1997 Jamaican MVP.
Rene SIMOES
Rene Simoes is a charismatic leader, a father to the athletes and a brother to them also. The advance of the Jamaicans past the qualifiers and into the World Cup would not have been possible without him. This Brazilian, who arrived on the team in August 1994 hammered out dictatorial rules based on intelligence and conviction and the team produced immediate results. His nickname is "The Professor". He was born in Cavalcante, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. He is known for having brought along Leonardo and Andersen when he was the coach of the under-20 national team and also has coaching experience in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere in the Mid East.
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