(Saint Lucia Daily Post – June 10, 2025) – After a second consecutive 4 goal hiding at the hands of Curaçao; this time without registering a goal, in what was a must win encounter in World Cup qualifying last Friday (June 6, 2025), Saint Lucia national team head coach Stern John says we can expect to see a more attacking approach against Barbados in our final group encounter on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). Speaking to Vybe Sports News in the wake of Friday’s defeat, John intimated that the team needed something to smile about.
“The last game against Curaçao we set up ourselves defensively, try not to get beaten easily. This game we’re going to approach it more on the front foot. We’re going to attack Barbados and try to get a result, because we need to get a result. We want to finish on a high. This is our last game for the World Cup campaign, probably for the rest of the year. We want to finish the game and at least get three points so we could go back home and have something to smile about.” John said.
Despite the huge loss and ultimate elimination from the World Cup Qualifiers, John said the mood in the camp remained positive.
“The boys have been really good. I think obviously, we’re disappointed with the result, which everybody in Saint Lucia and myself is disappointed but we can’t kill ourselves. That Curaçao team is a very good team and we have to respect them as well. There is a reason why they are in the Gold Cup and they’re pushing on to the next season of the World Cup too. When you look at their roster and where their players play and the clubs they play for, there’s a mile difference. There’s a huge gap, not making any excuses for performances but we have players in our team that haven’t played football all year. It’s difficult too, because our league is short and different stuff like that, but I think it’s going to get better. We just have to organize a bit better and like I said we will get there.”
Saint Lucia sit bottom of Group C, albeit with an identical record to this evening’s opponents Barbados, registering a paltry draw and two defeats in their 3 matches played. They have both scored 3 goals and conceded 8. A win against Barbados could however see Saint Lucia leapfrog Aruba and finish in a respectable third place in the group behind leaders Curaçao and Haiti, who have both already advanced to the next round of World Cup qualification.
