Best result ever, says Donaldson

Reggae Girlz head coach Lorne Donaldson says he ranks the team’s 0-0 draw in their opening Group F World Cup match against France as the best result ever in the nation’s football history.

The French team, ranked fifth in the world, were highly favoured to take three points against their Caribbean rivals, who are ranked 48th.

However, the Reggae Girlz frustrated their more accomplished European opponents with a masterful and disciplined defensive display to earn their first point at the global showpiece in two tournaments and four games, and Donaldson said when everything was considered, this was the best result the country has ever achieved on a global stage.

“I would say it is the number one result we have had so far. You are playing a team like France that are so fantastic. So I think it is the number one result I have seen, men or women. I would put it there. If you go by the rankings (of the two teams), you have to say that this result, this day, is number one,” he stated.

He said the team was determined to get something from the game despite the odds, and he thought their performance merited the point.

However, he insists that their aim is getting to the next round and that they must quickly put this game behind them and focus on the next.

“I am just happy for the girls. But it’s only one game, and we have a far way to go. But to start out like this is fantastic, but we have to just keep getting points. It’s three games, so we have to just keep accumulating points and try to get ourselves into a good position,” he continued.

The team’s remarkable result was achieved with only 10 players after top striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw was ejected after a second yellow card in time added.

Donaldson said that although they would miss the big forward for their next match against Panama, he was confident that they could fill that void.

“I think we show some stuff. The only thing about it is our number one player got a red card, so we have to make some more adjustments, but we are a resilient type of group, and we will find a way to sort that out.

“Losing Bunny Shaw is a big blow. The French defenders had a lot of problems with her. So to lose a player of that stature is a big loss. But we have other players who can get the job done. There are some young players who can give us a lift,” he pointed out.

“But she was fantastic. Hopefully, we can take care of the next game without her, and she will be back and ready for the following game. But even though she got a red card, she was fantastic. She gave everything,” he commented.

The French team dominated possession, but the Reggae Girlz limited their opportunities on goal, and their best chance to score came from Kadidiatou Diani’s header late in the second half, which hit both the croosbar and the left post.

“We came believing we could get something out of the game. It is a fantastic French team, but we tell our players, ‘Do not worry about the ranking’. We know what could happen if we come out and play hard and play with our hearts, and we gave it everything,” Donaldson added.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com