GUATEMALA CITY -- The Guatemalan national team has a head start in preparations for the decisive final two games of the semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

With the cooperation of Guatemalan clubs, head coach Ever Hugo Almeida called most of his players into camp at Project Goal in Guatemala City a few days before the official FIFA release date for international matchces, to begin a week-long camp leading up to the fifth match day of the CONCACAF semifinal round.

The Bicolor will take on visiting Jamaica at the Estadio Mateo Flores on October 12 and then travel to the United States to face that country's national team four days later in Kansas City.It won't be until after that last game is complete that the fate of the three teams currently tied atop Group A with seven points will be defined.

While Guatemala and the U.S. hold a slight edge on goal difference, the Jamaicans play their fifth game at home against Antigua and Barbuda, knowing that a lopsided victory would likely give them a ticket to the hexagonal regardless of results elsewhere.

That means the Guatemalans, with games remaining against the other two group co-leaders, and finishing on the road, appear to have the most challenging path to the hexagonal of the three.

"I think for us it's important to get three point from both games, to prevent leaving any doubts," said Mario Rodriguez, a veteran forward of the Bicolor.  "It's been a tough tournament, because there are three good teams.I should say four because it wasn't so easy for us on the island either, but we got three points on our visit.  Now the most important thing for us is the game against Jamaica, and from there look for the result in the final game that will give us the qualification."

But the situation for the team directed by Almeida has become even more complicated due an injury crisis, particularly in defense.

Three starting central defenders in Almeida's 5-4-1 scheme are missing, with Carlos Gallardo, Luis Rodriguez and Elias Vasquez all ruled out to injury for the next two match dates.  Things are so uncertain that Almeida, who usually fields a five man back line, could only find five defenders to call to camp.One of them -- Ruben Morales of Coban Imperial -- plays for a second division team in Guatemala.

Additionally, two of Almeida's forwards are without a club team, including his leading scorer Carlos Ruiz.  Fellow attacker Marco Pappa hasn't seen game action in about a month after his summer transfer to Heerenveen in Holland from MLS.

"I think, having played outside the country, even though maybe you're not playing in games, you have the motivation of rubbing shoulders with important players," said Rodriguez.  "In the case of Marco Pappa in Holland, we know he just arrived, and it's logical for him not to be a regular.

"And Carlos has a lucky star.He hasn't played many games.  That could affect him as a person, but as a goal scorer that's never going to hurt him.  He's scored in the last two games for us, three goals that have been very important for us."

The Municipal forward says the attitude in camp is very positive, and since Guatemala has called only two players from teams outside the country, the national team has been able to meet regularly during the week over the past month, in so-called mini-cycles called by Almeida.

"That's been important for us, because new teammates can come in and adapt, and we get to know each other better and adapt to the coach's techniques and tactics," said goalkeeper Cristian Rodriguez.  "We need to take advantage of this moment.  The environment in the team is good, very group-oriented, and that's important and helps all the players."

The Bicolor will continue training at Project Goal in Guatemala City through Friday, when they face Jamaica a few miles away at Mateo Flores.The Guatemalans will then head to Kansas for the October 16match with the U.S. that will determine whether they remain in the fight for a first-ever World Cup berth.