Defence first, says Busby

Ahead of the Reggae Girlz second international friendly against Brazil today, head coach Hubert Busby says the focus is to ensure the team puts on a strong defensive display against the South Americans.

The Girlz will play their second friendly following their opening 4-0 loss on Saturday in Recife, Brazil.

Leading the team's preparation, Busby said the focus will be creating a more defensively sound unit when they face Brazil this time around. This, he said, will become the team's identity for the future.

"I think for us, it is really about the building blocks. We've always have and will be a group and a team that is fundamentally defensively sound and nothing is wrong with that. It is the basis of all successful teams."

Busby will be hoping the Girlz will be able to create more opportunities but said it will be a difficult task against Brazil.

He explained that work has been done to improve the team's ability to retain possession and said he is expecting an improved performance today.

"There are a couple areas that we need to improve in terms of our build-up play and our hold-up play will allow us to get out and play in transition but also be able to retain the ball a bit better," he said. "Obviously against a very good team like Brazil, it might be more difficult. But we want to be able to keep the ball and possess the ball and be a threat in transition and understand that as we look to grow and evolve, that is an area that we need to improve."

Busby will be hoping a potential return of stalwart defender Allyson Swaby and forward Jody Brown will improve the team's chances.

Both players were absent from Saturday's game and a game time decision will be made today regarding their match fitness.

"Those will be game time decisions. Both players have trained, which is a positive sign, so we will check in on them and we're also checking with the medical team," he said. "So it will be a collective decision that is made [in the morning] and then we'll decide and go from there."

The Girlz will face Brazil at the Fonte Nova Arena. Match time is set for 6 p.m. Jamaica time.