Jamaica await fitness tests and FIFA for Costa Rica play-off

July 18 – Costa Rica and Jamaica face off in the Concacaf W Championship Third Place Match tonight at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico.

The match is a taste of the main event - the clash between the Olympic champions and the world champions - but it nevertheless has the potential to be a very spicy announcer.

Both teams have achieved their pre-tournament goals of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. Both will be playing their second World Cup.

They both qualified in the same way, facing a core group of players. but playing quite differently.

Jamaica has a powerful backbone for their team, from their Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper to Racing Louisvilles centre-back Satarra Murray to Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw.

Costa Rica are powered by a midfield coach led by Portland Thorns' Raquel Rodriguez and captain Katherine Alvarado.

The semi-finals were tough for both teams, with injuries forcing some kwy players out of the starting lineups.

On Monday night, both coaches said they hoped to return to a full range of draft options.

The key for Costa Rica will be how their possession came to contrast with the undoubted strength brought by Jamaica. Costa Rican coach Amelia Valverde said they "expected a physical game, but they were prepared for it".

Jamaica's approach will be determined by who is available, and in particular the physical condition of Manchester City star striker Khadeja Shaw.

"She's an integral part of what we do," coach Lorne Donaldson said. "You can't miss a player like that, she's a great presence. I hope we find her again for the next game and that we keep going and do our best."

"We came here as massive underdogs. Nobody expected us to qualify for the World Cup, but that's what we expected. Tomorrow is the icing on our cake and we want to finish third in Concacaf. It's a great achievement."

It's a goal that would be helped if Liverpool striker Jade Bailey is finally cleared by FIFA to take part in the competition.

"It's in FIFA's hands. We can wake up tomorrow and she's ready to go. With all the money they (FIFA) have, I don't know why they don't work the Saturday or Sunday," Donaldson said.

Donaldson only took control of the Jamaican team in June and has probably been working hard every day since. With tomorrow's game, his contract with the Jamaican FA comes to an end. Regarding the next stage of development for Jamaicans, he said, “We have to sit down and use the windows. There is a FIFA international window in August and the way we are with the players, we have to get them in. If we go in a different direction (in terms of contract renewals for him and his coaching staff), we need to know and we will. move on… We have to move fast and organize friendlies if we want to be a country of football. »

Asked why Jamaica hasn't had a local women's league for three years, Donaldson answered unequivocally.

"It's embarrassing that a country like Jamaica doesn't have a league. I think (as the national team manager) that I can help. There are a lot of players of Jamaican descent who would come to play in Jamaica. There are also a lot of foreign players who would come to play… Maybe the government can help,” Donaldson said.

"There has been a lot of talk. Stop talking, it's time to act," he continued.

The BBVA will be in action on Monday night as the Concacaf W Championship rolls on to what promises to be a spectacular evening of women's football.

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