Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz made history in their Australia & New Zealand 2023 opener by holding France to a scoreless draw, earning their first-ever point in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Drew Spence, a standout player in the dynamic midfield, emphasized her team’s unwavering belief in their ability to compete against higher-ranked opponents.
Despite being 38 places below France in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, Spence confidently stated that they were not intimidated by the challenge. Their strong self-assurance and team spirit were instrumental in achieving this remarkable result, and they now eagerly anticipate facing Panama and Brazil in the upcoming group stage matches.
France vs Jamaica – Sydney Football Stadium- Women’s World Cup 2023 #WWC2023 pic.twitter.com/dodhnJzsWx
— Danyon (@dhoss19) July 23, 2023
The draw with France served as a momentous achievement for Jamaica, demonstrating their determination to surpass expectations and leave a lasting impression on the global stage. Certainly, Jamaica’s group also includes the formidable South American team, Brazil, but their immediate focus is on a crucial match against Panama in Perth on Saturday.
Spence firmly believes that the team can further enhance their performance levels and achieve their first-ever Women’s World Cup victory. “After achieving an unexpected result against France, we now have a significant match against Panama, and our approach will be different,” she commented.
“Our goal is to be more proactive in attacking and providing support to the frontline. We believe we can create numerous scoring opportunities, and we’ll be diligently working on that aspect throughout the week.”
However, Jamaica will have to face the challenge without relying on Bunny Shaw’s ability to convert those opportunities, as the superstar striker was shown a red card late in the match against France. Spence acknowledges that losing their inspirational captain is a significant setback but is confident in the team’s depth and their ability to succeed even in her absence.
“Bunny is a vital player for us; she serves as our captain and leader. Although her absence is a major blow, we understand that in football, unexpected situations can arise. Our primary objective now is to step up and secure a victory for her against Panama,” Spence emphasized. “Bunny played a crucial role in our result against France, and we recognize her exceptional contributions. However, we also have other outstanding players in our team who can step in and fulfill their roles effectively. We’ll give our all to win for Bunny on Saturday.”
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