SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Jamaica Reggae Girls midfielder Drew Spence says the Caribbean side will have to be more attacking in their next game against Panama if they are to collect total points and progress in the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Playing in their opening Group F game at Allianz Stadium Sunday, Jamaica frustrated powerhouses France to earn a precious point in a nil-all draw.
A positive result against the Panamians in Perth next Saturday will see the Jamaicans claim their first-ever World Cup win and position themselves for a place in the next round of the showpiece.
“We’ve got a result against France, and probably no one expected that. Now we’ve got a big game against Panama. We’ll have a different game plan,” Spence said afterward.
“I think we need to get forward more and support the frontline. We can create many more chances and work on that this week.”
Jamaica did not have many chances against the French, their best opportunity coming in the first half when Manchester City star Khadija Shaw forced a diving save out of goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, with a superb free kick from nearly 30 yards out.
Shaw, Jamaica’s talismanic captain, was sent off in stoppage time at the end for a second yellow card and will now miss the contest against Panama.
Despite being ranked 38 places below fifth-ranked France, Spence said the Reggae Girls had not been intimidated by their opponents.
“We know the quality we have in the team and the confidence and spirit we have,” said Spence, who features for Tottenham Hotspurs in the English Super League
“We were confident we could get a result, which is huge for us. I can’t tell you how big this is. We knew we could do this. I had a good feeling about it all week.
“I think many people didn’t even think we were going to make it to the World Cup because we had a tough group in the Concacaf qualifiers, and now we have another tough group here.
“We don’t mind people writing us off, though; it just motivates us.”
Jamaica are also grouped with the South American nation Brazil which they play in their final game.
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