Soccer AM

Campbell-Ryce: confident of World Cup qualification

It's brilliant in the changing room and it's the same every time I play for them - the music is playing and there's always a vibe about the place which gets all the players going.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce
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Jamal Campbell-Ryce told Soccer AM that he feels as much Jamaican as he does English, despite what his team mates say!

The Barnsley winger was born and raised in England, but has opted to represent Jamaica instead - having qualified to play for the Reggae Boyz through his parents.

"I feel a bit of both really", he said. "The lads hammer me at football saying that I'm a fake (Jamaican), but I'll stay true to my roots and I suppose I feel Jamaican.

Following in the footsteps of players such as Jason Euell and Robbie Earle, Campbell-Ryce has been capped seven times by Jamaica and admits he loves the atmosphere when he goes to play for them.

"Obviously it's an honour playing for your country and I'm sure any international would say the same thing," he said.

"It's brilliant in the changing room and it's the same every time I play for them - the music is playing and there's always a vibe about the place which gets all the players going."

Experience

In 2006 the former Charlton player had to face the country of his birth in an International friendly, just weeks before the World Cup.

It was the first time that Jamaica and England had ever met as the two teams went head to head at Old Trafford, although the game didn't quite go to plan for Campbell-Ryce.

Jamaica were thrashed 6-0 by England with Peter Crouch scoring his first ever international hat-trick, but despite the result the injured winger revealed he enjoyed every minute of the game.

"It was a great experience even though we got beat quite heavily," he said. "It was brilliant playing at old Trafford and in front of all those people."

Qualifiers

Next up for Campbell-Ryce and Jamaica will be more World Cup qualifiers in September. The Reggae Boyz, who have been drawn in the same group as Honduras, Canada and Mexico, collected a point in their first game against Canada and now face the tough task of beating Mexico in Kingston.

But Campbell-Ryce, who is currently recovering from a dislocated elbow, believes Jamaica are more than capable of repeating their success of 1998 and qualify for only their second World Cup ever.

"It's a tough group to be fair, but we've got a lot of experienced players and I do fancy our chances," revealed Campbell-Ryce.

"If I'm selected we will probably meet up three or four days before (the game). Obviously it's a long way to go as well, but I'm just trying to get fit and get this elbow right."