This is the game of our lives and careers – National coach Jamaal Shabazz
MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Guyana’s Golden Jaguars and CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico, ranked 99th and 19th respectively in the FIFA world rankings, lock horns in a Group B encounter, on the opening match day of the third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers at the world-famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, from 19:00hrs (20:00hrs Guyana time) tonight. Although five other matches will be kicking off simultaneously around the North, Central American and Caribbean Zones in Group A, B and C, this game carries the most interest since it is set-up as the archetypical ‘David vs Goliath’ match-up, due to the two nations football histories.
Mexico, colloquially referred to as ‘El Tri,’ have qualified for 14 of the 19 FIFA world cups and consecutively since 1994 tournament that was held in the United States.
The Jaguars, on the other hand, don’t have such significant football accomplishments in their Curriculum Vitae and only recently had their greatest national football moment when they toppled Caribbean football giants Trinidad and Tobago in the previous round – a night that Guyanese football enthusiasts now term ‘11-11-11’.
Add this to the fact that the Azteca is a sound fortress for the Mexicans – having not lost a competitive or friendly game on this hallowed venue since 2002 – which is most famous for hosting the game of the century (Brazil vs Italy 1970 World Cup final) and Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God Goal’ in 1986.

CAMPAIGN PREPARATION
Both sides have gone about their preparation for this semi-final round in drastically different manners.
With the altitude factor always very prominent when teams visit Mexico the Guyana team held a training camp in Columbia where they played two games along with friendly internationals in Panama and Jamaica over the past month and although they lost all of those games – the purpose of those matches was targeted towards today’s encounter instead of whether the team was triumphant or unsuccessful.
The Mexicans played three friendlies in America against Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brazil, winning all of those matches.
Their 2-0 win over Brazil, although it was a Under-23 Olympic side mainly, was greatly praised by coach Jose Torre at a press conference today, in which he praised the performances of his Carré Magique (Magic Square) attacking strikers Javier Hernandez , Giovanni Dos Santos, Pablo Barrera and Andres Guadardo.
National coach Jamal Shabazz and captain Chris Nurse spoke briefly before the team left for training and both, although being positive in their outlook, were suffering from no delusions of grandeur of the task that awaits the team.
“This is a big moment for Guyana and the toughest game we will ever face in our life and an opportunity we are ready to take; it’s a great learning experience and what a game for our lives and careers. May we live in interesting times!” said Shabazz humbly.
Speaking about tactics and his feelings about how the team have adapted to the altitude during the camp he said, “We will be forced to defend for long periods, so this game will test our character, and ability to be disciplined and constant. We have done the preparation that we can do and the commitment shown by players thus far has been first class and we look forward to giving our best for our country”.
Nurse, who is the only player in the Guyana team to play high level football in Mexico for his North American Soccer League side Carolina Railhawks during the CONCACAF Champions league, echoed much of what Shabazz said. He spoke of the eye-opening receptions the Guyana team got on their arrival in Mexico, flocked by a crescendo of local reporters.
“As gaffer said, we are away from home in Mexico. Altitude is going to have a massive say on the style we play, regardless if you are fit as a fiddle, based on my experience of playing in it – is very difficult to breathe.
For some people it can take months, so hopefully the camp would have put the boys in good stead. It was an experience for all of us how those journalists flocked us when we arrived – we see it on TV, but to have it happen for us, made us all appreciate the top level international we are at right now.” Nurse reasoned.
Between 80 000 and 90 000 fans, according to the Mexican Football Association are expected to flock the stadium that hold 105 000 at full capacity and Nurse concluded by suggesting that playing in front of such a large and likely hostile home crowd could inspire the Jaguars to do something great on the night.

Players to watch
With Shabazz acknowledging the defensive style the team will be resigned to playing, how quickly Guyana on the counterattack can get the ball up to strikers Carl Cort and Gregory Richardson when they are in goal-scoring positions, may turn out to be a key factor for the visitors.
Guyana also have a massive height difference advantage over Mexico, so once they manage to breathe well on the night, set-piece goal options may also prove invaluable for them.
As aforementioned the ‘Magic Square’ are Mexico’s main source of goals. With their short stature, low centre of gravity and lightning quick turn of pace that can embarrass the best of defenders in world football, the Guyanese back-line which will be marshalled by Leon Cort, John Paul ‘JP’ Rodrigues and Charles Pollard, will know they have to bring their A-games to the table to keep them quiet over 90 minutes.
However El Trini isn’t all about attack, since captain and former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez brings experience and composure in leading the back-line.
Guyana Football Federation acting president Franklin Wilson, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Faizal Khan, Mark Phillips of the Georgetown Football Association and Dexter Austin of Western Tigers are some of the notable football personalities from Guyana expected to be at the game.

Guyana 22-man squad: Goalkeepers – Ronson Williams, Richard Reynolds, Colin Edwards. Defenders – Leon Cort, Charles Pollard, JP Rodrigues, Walter Moore, Howard Newton, Chris Bourne, Aubrey David. Midfielders – Chris Nurse, Kayode McKinnon, Konata Mannings, Kester Jacobs, Dwight Peters, Dwain Jacobs, Howard Newton.
Strikers – Gregory Richardson, Anthony Abrams and Shawn Beveney. Coach: Jamal Shabazz.

Mexico squad: Goalkeepers – Jose Corona, Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera. Defenders – Rafael Marquez, Francisco Rodrguez, Carlos Salcido, Hector Moreno, Severo Meza, Israel Jiminez, Hugo Ayala, Jorge Nino. Midfielders – Jesus Molina, Edgar Andrade, Pablo Barrera, Angel Reyna, Jesus Zavala, Luis Perez, Andres Guadardo, Edgar Lugo.
Strikers – Javier Hernandez,  Giovanni Dos Santos, Aldo Di Nigris. Coach: Jose Manuel de la Torre.