Eriksson says it's football not war

By Brian Homewood

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has brushed aside fears of a physical battle in Saturday's World Cup qualifier away to Jamaica, saying his team are heading for a football match and not a war.

Mexico have a 100 percent record in Group Two of the CONCACAF'S zone third stage and another win will send them through to next year's final phase with two matches to spare.

The United States, who host Cuba in Group One, and Costa Rica, who visit Suriname in Group Three, are in identical positions to the Mexicans as they also look to book their places early in other matches on Saturday.

The top two teams each group progress to the final stage of the marathon contest.

Mexico have often struggled on previous visits to the Caribbean, appearing intimidated by the physical prowess of sides such as Jamaica and Trinidad.

"It maybe a tough match and Jamaica maybe a tough team but I don't think we're scared of playing there," said Eriksson.

"I'm not going to send out a team of battlers, we are going to play football, we're not going for a war."

Jamaica, who have one point alongside Canada, go into the game under interim coach Theodore Whitmore after Brazilian Rene Simoes was sacked last month.