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Girlz to use Paraguay for Brazil
November 10, 2022
The Reggae Girlz friendly international against Paraguay at the Montego Bay Sports Complex at 8 this evening will be a measuring stick of their chances against Brazil, who are in their World Cup group.
Brazil were 2-0 winners over Paraguay when the teams played in the women's Copa America in July.
Reggae Girlz coach Lorne Donaldson believes their performance against the South Americans will give a good indication of where they are in anticipation of facing South American giants Brazil.
"Paraguay will be very difficult to overcome so we have to make sure we are ready for the challenge because we are playing a top South American team. Brazil knocked them out, so it is good to see where we stand early in comparison to teams like Brazil. So it is a measuring stick," Donaldson said.
He believes that breaking down Paraguay's defence will be a hard task and insists the Reggae Girlz must take the chances created.
"Paraguay will be very difficult, so we have to take our chances when we get them. We will have to be patient at times when we go through that process of breaking them down, so ball possession in certain areas of the field will be important," he continued.
The objectives of the teams are much different at this stage, with Paraguay to compete in the Intercontinental playoffs involving 10 teams for three World Cup spots, while Donaldson is still assessing players and combinations for the trip to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.
"Paraguay is a good team. They qualified for the last phase of the World Cup and out of the 10-team bracket is one of the favoured three to come out," Donald said.
"Our players come in good spirits and there are no significant injuries and the expectation from them is nothing but positive. We want to win. Paraguay want to win. They have important World Cup games in a few months, so our substitution patterns will be different.
"There are a couple players in camp that we do not expect much from. So (former captain) Konya (Plummer) will not play. She is just being a part of the squad and getting her back into the thick of things and the doctors can look at her and make an assessment.
"Cheyna Matthews is further ahead and if the game goes accordingly we hope she can get some time to play a little," he added.
Both Plummer and Matthews gave birth recently.
