Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson likened their Women’s World Cup last-16 clash against Colombia in Melbourne on Tuesday to a boxing bout and pledged to be the ones delivering the knockout punch.
Both sides are gunning to make the last eight for the first time with a clash against either European champions England at stake.
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“They’re all big games, this is just a different round, so the approach, we are not going to change much,” said Donaldson, whose side have yet to concede a goal, holding powerhouses France and Brazil.
“We are going to come up and give it a good shot. Someone will be knocked out, like a boxing match, someone will go down. We’re going to be the one standing when the game is over.”
While the 43rd-ranked Reggae Girlz have yet to concede, they have only scored once – against Panama through Paris Saint-Germain’s Allyson Swaby.
Donaldson admitted that must change.
“The lack of goals coming in, I don’t think it’s a major concern to us,” he said.
“We have played some good teams here, France and Brazil, two of the top teams in the world and we were actually supposed to be losing by six or seven, according to the critics.
“To get through the (group) round you just need to do what you have to do. But obviously now we need to score goals to win this game or we are knocked out.”
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An impressive Colombia, ranked 25th, are banking on two teenage stars to help steer them into the last eight.
Real Madrid striker Linda Caicedo has already announced herself to the world with goals in wins against South Korea and Germany during the group phase.
She is set to be joined by fellow 18-year-old Ana Maria Guzman in her tournament debut with attacking defender Manuela Vanegas suspended after two yellow cards.
Coach Nelson Abadia has mentored both Caicedo and Guzman since they were 12 years old and has full faith they will rise to the occasion.
“I have 23 players and they are all very talented,” said Abadia, who is renowned for sticking with the same starting team where possible.
“I’m fully confident in Ana, she is very capable.”
Guzman played at last year’s under-17 World Cup in India where they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final, and said she was ready to step up.
“I will play any position, left or right and enjoy every second,” said the Deportivo Pereira player, sitting next to her coach.
“It’s a great opportunity. The coach has been a key person in my life, he has always supported me and I want to give my best.
“To be playing with Linda is extra special. Yes, we are the youngest, but we will break our backs for this shirt,” she added.
Guzman is expected to be the only change to the team that lost 1-0 to Morocco in their last group game.
The match kicks off at 6pm AEST.
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MATILDAS SET TO LEARN QF RIVALS AS FRANCE TAKE ON MINNOWS
France coach Herve Renard has warned his team not to take Morocco lightly as they face one of the surprise packages of the Women’s World Cup in the last 16 on Tuesday.
While France’s objective is to win a major women’s title for the first time, Morocco qualified for the last 16 at their debut World Cup against the odds and at the expense of Germany.
There are 67 places between the nations in the FIFA rankings as they clash in Adelaide with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
The match is also a special occasion for Renard, who managed the Moroccan men’s team for three years and took them to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I have marvellous memories of my time in Morocco, but let’s focus on the football,” Renard told reporters on the eve of the game.
“Even when we have a kickabout with friends we want to win, and we are here to win and qualify for the next round.
“The important thing is that we respect our opponents and the fact that this is a last-16 tie at a World Cup.
“Morocco are not here by chance. This is a match of the same calibre as our game against Brazil.”
France beat Brazil 2-1 on the way to topping their group, also defeating Panama after being held by Jamaica in their opening game.
Morocco, meanwhile, bounced back from a 6-0 hammering by Germany to beat both South Korea and Colombia and qualify in second place in Group H behind the South Americans.
“We respect them but we are focused on ourselves,” added Renard.
“There is a lot of experience in this France team. I am here to guide them as well as I possibly can but I get the feeling that they would do just fine on their own if I were not here.”
The match sees Renard pit his wits against fellow Frenchman Reynald Pedros, a former France international as a player who has been in charge of Morocco since 2020.
“There will be just one French coach left in the quarter-finals,” Renard said.
The winner of Tuesday evening’s contest will face Australia in the quarter-finals.
The match kicks off at 9pm AEST.
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