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Crunch time Mexico, Jamaica fighting for World Cup survival
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco is set to return for Mexico in its crunch World Cup CONCACAF qualifier away to Jamaica on Sunday after missing nearly a year through injury. Mexico travels to Kingston needing a win to keep alive its chances of qualifying for Japan and South Korea next year after making a disastrous start to the final stage of its qualifying competition. Costa Rica and the United States could virtually clinch their places if they beat Trinidad and Honduras respectively in the weekend's other games. Mexico is fifth with seven points, one place below and one point behind the Reggae Boyz who claim an unbeaten 51-match home record at the stadium they call "The Office." "This is a life or death game," said veteran defender Claudio Suarez, who earlier this year became the world's most capped player. Blanco, who at the last World Cup became known for an unorthodox piece of skill known as the "Cuauhtemoc hop," suffered a serious knee injury last October in a preliminary group game against Trinidad. The injury followed a brutal lunging tackle by defender Ansel Elcock, who was sent off and given a two-match suspension. Blanco made his return to action over the weekend for Valladolid in the Spanish championship coming on as a substitute against Deportivo Coruna. "I was called into the team, but I am not at my best, I am still lacking a little rhythm that I need to play my best football for 90 minutes, but I have come to add what I can for Mexico," Blanco said. Dire consequences Mexico knows it cannot afford to miss out on the World Cup. "We know the consequences of missing out, not just for the players but for everyone involved in football," said striker Jared Borgetti. Jamaica also needs a win badly, having already dropped home points against the United States and Honduras. With four matches each to play, Costa Rica and the United States are level on 13 points at the top of the group, followed by Honduras and Jamaica on eight, Mexico on seven and Trinidad with one. The top three qualify. Honduras, which beat Mexico only to slump to a home defeat by Costa Rica in its next game, is looking for at least a point in Saturday's game against the United States to stay on course for its first World Cup since 1982. "This is a game of life or death for us," said Lizandro Flores, president of the Honduran Football Federation. The Central Americans' morale was boosted by their performance at the Copa America in July when they finished third after twice beating Uruguay and amazingly knocking out Brazil on the way. Honduras will be missing the pace of Italian-based striker David Suazo through injury but Carlos Pavon, who scored a hat-trick in the home win over Mexico, returns after suspension. Costa Rica also played at the Copa America and reached the quarterfinals, before losing to Uruguay. Its Brazilian coach Alexandre Guimaraes promised it will attack Trinidad from the start in Saturday's game in Port of Spain. "There is no reason to change anything, from the kickoff we will be aiming for opponent's goal as we have done throughout qualifying (competition)," he said.
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