Ian Burnett | Jamaica Observer
The Reggae Boyz continued where they left off against Serbia with another spirited display which saw them hold out against Switzerland for much of their international friendly here at the Swisspoarena Luzern, until they succumbed to an 84th-minute strike, yesterday.
Played in front of a capacity 15,000 spectators at the intimate venue, which had a few black, green and gold-clad spectators supporting the visitors, it was a game of ebbs and flows, as both teams were intent to play open football, which resulted in enterprising play.
Half-time substitute Josip Drmic made the difference when he broke into the penalty area to receive a through pass from Blerim Dzemaili before turning Wes Morgan to hit home with the outside of his right boot through the flailing hands of goalkeeper Andre Blake.
In the end it was as much as the hosts deserve, having carved out the better goalscoring opportunities on the night, despite another brilliant display between the frame by Blake, who, for the second game in a row, raised eyebrows with his heroics.
Head coach Winfried Schaefer was not surprised at the performance of the Reggae Boyz. In fact, he believes they are beginning to regain respect in the football world.
“I’m not surprised because I know my players have good character and good spirit, but we have to find one player who can keep the ball in front as a striker,” he said at game’s end.
“I saw yesterday (Thursday) they had a very good training, the spirit was very good and we have good leaders in the team now,” he continued.
He added: “It was not a friendly match, it was for our image, for Jamaica.
I saw Dawkins and Grant, they are good players and I never saw them before these games. I told Ottmar (Hitzfeld, coach of Switzerland), when you can beat Jamaica then you can make quarterfinals of World Cup.
He was happy with our play, and he was surprised at our ability to play football. “He said, ‘What is this?’ Before, nobody knows about Jamaica, but now there is respect for Jamaica.
I’m happy, not about the result, but the performance, it was very good. Our image is better now than before and we will continue to build a good team for all competitions coming up, the Caribbean Cup, the Gold Cup and the Copa America.”
The German is hoping that when the local players go home from this tour they will train harder on their own to be better players at the international level, so that they can continue to play against footballers from some of the best clubs in Europe.
As expected, Switzerland, who will be making their 10th appearance at next month’s FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil, started spritely, forcing the Boyz to hold a defensive line just outside their penalty area.
The hosts had their first shot in anger when Dzemaili blasted over the horizontal from outside the penalty area, after failing to get behind the Jamaican defence on their first few forays in attack.
Blake was called into action early, as he raced off his line to avert danger at the expense of a corner. The Boyz were comfortable employing a counter-attacking ploy, and on one such move involving Joel Grant and Darren Mattocks, it resulted in Grant centring from the left, but the ball couldn’t beat the former Arsenal defenders Johan Djourour and Philippe Senderos.
Demar Phillips then blasted the rebound harmlessly over the top.
Moments later Blake had to be at his brilliant best at the other end to parry a spliced effort from the boot of the retreating Adrian Mariappa, from a right-sided low cross. In a flash the Boyz made inroads at the other end with Rodolph Austin unleashing a left-footed pile driver which took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, before sailing past the wrong side of the left upright.
On the half-hour mark, striker Michael Seaton turned beautifully between Djourou and Senderos, only for the former to pull him down just inside their half.
Referee Neil Doyle produced a yellow card, but had it been a competitive game, it could have been red. From the resulting free kick, Grant’s drive was deflected for a corner.
Shortly after, Dawkins and Seaton combined well on the left to provide an opening for Phillips, but yet again the Swiss defence was alert to block the effort. Intent on making their territorial advantage count, Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld introduced his skipper Gokhan Inler of Napoli, and Drmic at the break and they continued to push the Jamaicans deep into their defensive third, but try as they might, the tricky Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich, Granit Xhaka and company could not find a way past an inspired Blake, who foiled their attempts time and again. On one occasion he had to make a double save on his goal line.
Drmic had a glorious opportunity to stab home at the far post after the hour mark, but his effort was drilled into the ground and over the top. It was a sign of things to come. Six minutes from the end, Drmic broke into the penalty box to receive a through pass which Mariappa just failed to cut out.
He turned inside Morgan before applying the killer touch to finally beat Blake from close range. The Swiss will now take on Peru at the same venue next Tuesday, before journeying to South America for their World Cup campaign.
The Boyz will depart Switzerland today for London, where they are scheduled to face Egypt in another friendly international on Wednesday, before closing out against France in Lille on June 8.
Four players — Blake, Dwayne Miller, Mattocks and Phillips — have ended their stay with the Boyz and will return to their respective clubs.
Teams:
Jamaica — Andre Blake, Lloyd Doyley, Wes Morgan, Michael Seaton (Romario Campbell 74th), Darren Mattocks (Christopher Humphrey 54th), Demar Phillips (Nicholas Beckett 78th), Joel Grant, Rodolph Austin, Simon Dawkins (Keithy Simpson 90th), Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence.
Subs not used: Dwayne Miller, Jacomeno Barrett, Upstan Edwards, Nicholy Finlayson, Hughan Gray, John-Ross Campbell Booked: None
Switzerland — Diego Benaglio (Yann Sommer 46th), Stephan Lichtsteiner, Reto Ziegler (Ricardo Rodriquez (83rd), Philippe Senderos, Haris Seferovic (Josip Drmic 46th), Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami (Gokhan nler 46th), Blerim Dzemaili, Admir Mehmedi (Valentin Stocker (64th), John Djourou, Xherdan Shaqiri (Gelson Fernandes 72nd).
Subs not used: Roman Burki, Steve Von Bergen, Michael Lang, Fabian Schaer Booked: Djourou (27th), Xhaka (77th)
Referee: Neil Doyle (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Dermot Broughton, Wayne McDonnell (Ireland)
Fourth Official: Adrien Jaccottet (Switzerland)