Donovan Ricketts

Portland Timbers' two Reggae Boyz, Donovan Ricketts and Ryan Johnson have their eyes firmly set on the showdown with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca and hope to use the World Cup qualifying opener as a chance to put the embarrassment of December's Digicel Caribbean Cup firmly behind them.

"It was just unprofessional. The way the games were approached, the way the whole tournament was approached," Johnson told MLS Soccer.com, before trailing off, his frustration readily apparent.

"We have guys who hold themselves at a higher standard. Just having that is going to be completely different for this Jamaican team," Johnson said in reference to the Jamaican squad called for the World Cup Qualifying game against Mexico on Wednesday.

Johnson was part of the Jamaican squad that crashed and burned in the Caribbean Cup group stage. Finishing bottom of Group B, with one draw, two losses and just one goal scored in three games against Martinique, Cuba and French Guiana.

It's was a low point for the Reggae Boyz, who've been one of the dominant powers in the Caribbean for the better part of two decades. It also means they've missed out on this summer's Gold Cup, and that's prompted head coach Theodore Whitmore to make a near-total roster overhaul, ahead of the February 6 game against El Tri.

"Playing in Mexico is tough. Playing with a team that's newly constructed- I think we'll have about two training sessions together - makes it even tougher. But we're Jamaicans. We learn to adapt to situations and I think we'll do okay," Ricketts said.

"I wish the guys were here earlier, just so we could get accustomed to playing together and get to know each other. But that's just the way it is sometimes," Johnson offered.

Yet even with the short turnaround between "nice to meet you" pleasantries and the first whistle at the toughest venue in CONCACAF, Johnson is confident.

"It's a mentality thing. It's a different team, a complete different mindset, and number one, it's the quality. The quality is going to be better," Johnson said.

And it will have to be. As Ricketts put it, "It's Mexico. It's a very tough task - you prepare 10 months, it's (still) gonna be tough playing at high altitude at the Azteca. It's the best game to start and get it out of the way."

And in the process, it'll give the 'new' Jamaica a chance to make December's failure, just a memory.

Reggae Boy Ryan Johnson - file