Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

A ROUGH road lies ahead of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz as they embark on the next phase of their World Cup qualification campaign, one that, in the opinion of technical director René Simoes, could very well be the end of the journey if the team does not improve in several key areas.

The national team had little trouble advancing from the second round of the CONCACAF qualifiers after thrashing the Bahamas, ranked 167th, 13-0 on aggregate.

However, the competition's third round is an entirely different prospect. The Boyz have found themselves in Group Two, the CONCACAF's 'Group of Death', where they will face Mexico, Honduras and Canada, teams ranked first, third and fourth in the region.

Space for improvement

"We must improve or we will not pass this difficult phase," Simoes told The Gleaner.

"There are several aspects in which need to get better; our finishing, our marking, defending, movement - we really need to be more compact and play as a team," he said.

With several players added to the squad a little over a month ago, time is a critical factor in the Boyz not only eliminating errors, but building chemistry as a team. Jamaica will kick off the third round of the qualifiers on August 20 against the Canadians in Toronto, which gives very little time for adjustment.

On a recent trip to Canada, the technical director was impressed with the play of the Canadians.

"It won't be easy, they are playing very well ... a different team than they were in 1998. They don't play as many long balls, they take control of the game. Canada are a good team," Simoes said.

However, the forecast is far from all doom and gloom from the technical director and he remains confident that the goal of World Cup qualification is still an attainable one.

"I agree, it is the 'Group of Death', by far the most difficult one, but if the team is going to become stronger, better, then these are the kinds of challenges you have to face. In that respect, it's great and I look forward to it," he said.

Positive outlook

"I always look at the glass as half full, not half empty; always positive, we can do it. There is no choice, we just have to go out there and do the job," he said.

In that respect, Simoes has not ruled out making additions that could bolster the team ahead of the tough third-round campaign.

"I am never satisfied, I am always looking to strengthen the national team and if there are people better than what I have out there, then they will be added to the squad," he said.

While admitting a schedule, which will see Jamaica finish with two home games against Honduras and then Canada, to be in some respects favourable, the man who guided the nation in the historic feat of qualification to the 1998 World Cup in France, insists that it is not enough for the team to be comfortable.

"I do prefer to play the games in the end at home, but the fact is that we just have to go out there and play. Wherever the games are, we just have to try and get results which get the job done," he said.