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Kingston, Jamaica • After two weeks in comfortable surroundings for training sessions and low-stress friendlies back home, the U.S. men's soccer team entrenched itself this week in Arnett Gardens, a tough neighborhood in central Kingston known to the locals as the "Concrete Jungle."
They arrived midday Tuesday, some 36 hours earlier than they would normally set foot on foreign ground for a World Cup qualifier.
"It puts us in the right state of mind," said coach Juergen Klinsmann, whose team will play Jamaica on Friday night at National Stadium, the first of three qualifiers over 12 days.
The Americans (1-1-1) lost here in September in the semifinal round, their only defeat against Jamaica in 20 meetings. But say they are better prepared this time and motivated by the setback.
"We want to correct it," Klinsmann said, "because it still sits in the stomach."
The Reggae Boyz are 0-2-2.