Road to Brazil

Whilst England and the rest of Europe are still concentrating on qualifying for the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine, elsewhere around the globe countries have already started the long, long journey to Brazil 2014.

Qualifying matches have already started in Asia and the North, Central American and Caribbean region and last night in Guyana at the countries national stadium (mostly used for cricket) Bermuda were playing in a Round 2 Group B match.

According to reports players on both sides struggled with the middle of the pitch because it was so threadbare due to it being prepared for cricket. I am assuming that passing around the stumps had to be a little tricky as well!

There were no goals at the half, just a handful of bookings. Guyana went in front in the 50th minute when Vurion Mills found the net and then extended that lead 9 minutes later when Bermudian goalie and ex-Charlton trialist Freddy Hall was left stranded by another Mills shot. Hall is now at Northampton Town.

Bermudian coach Devarr Boyles made a host of substitutions as the Onions tried to salvage something and they did when Khano Smith’s (photo) left footed drive sneaked into the corner of the net.

Bermuda then came dramatically close to equalising in injury time but Guyana ‘keeper Williams saved a bullet header from close range.

Last Friday Bermuda lost a closely fought first match to the group favourites Trinidad & Tobago. Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones getting the only goal just before half time in front of 3,500 at the very nice Hasely Crawford Stadium.

So with two of Bermuda’s six games played they sit at the bottom of the four-team group six points behind both Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. With just one team qualifying into the 3rd Round (when the seeded nations join) it doesn’t look good for the Bermudians, but they have at least got the two hardest ties out of the way with the Bahamas the other country in the group.

The Onions next game is at home against Trinidad & Tobago in October.