REGGAE BOYZ captain, Ricardo Gardner, believes the rugged encounter against Costa Rica was just what the doctor ordered as the national team continues its preparations to embark upon what is expected to be a tough World Cup qualification campaign.

"It was a very tough game. We weren't at our best, but it is games like these that we need to improve ourselves both as players and as a unit," Gardner said at Wednesday night's post-game press conference.

Rock solid

Gardner, who plies his trade for English Premier League team, Bolton Wanderers, was rock solid in his customary position at left back, but almost saw the team come out 1-0 losers, were it not for the heroics of veteran defender, Tyrone Marshall, who brought the scores level with an injury-time header.

"We never gave up, we had to fight because we remember that we are not just playing for ourselves, but almost 2.6 million people," Gardner, a member of the team that made history by qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, said.

"We would like to thank all the fans for coming out ... we are happy for the support and I know we will improve with each game we play," he said.

- K.M.