The USA faces Martinique on Monday at Gillete Stadium in its final Group C game (TV: Galavision, live, 8:30 p.m ET). Two teams from the three-team group advance to the quarterfinals.
As a part of France, the Caribbean island Martinique isn't eligible for FIFA competions, but it does compete in CONCACAF events.
Martinique ranks among the top five teams in the Caribbean. In 2002, it upset perennial Caribbean power Trinidad & Tobago to advance to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, where it fell to defending chammpion Canada on penalty kicks.
In Gold Cup 2003 qualifying, Martinique pulled off a pair of phenomenal comebacks. It beat St. Lucia, 5-4, after trailing, 4-1, with less than 30 minutes to play. That victory propelled Martinique into the interzonal playoffs, where it beat Trinidad & Tobago, 3-2, after trailing, 2-0, again with less than 30 minutes to play!
Bernard Lama, the starting goalie on France's 1996 European Championship team and backup on its 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 championship teams, has been brought in to work with Martinique as an advisor to Coach Theodore Antonin.
Lama's bid to get reinforcements from France's pro ranks for the Gold Cup were rebuffed by French clubs, forcing Martinique to put six French League players on its Gold Cup roster on the alternate list.
''This is a good experience for Martinique, but it will be tough,'' said Lama. ''The team has only two professionals, but it will be ready to play.''
Lama is advocating more autonomy for the soccer federations of French departments, which also include his native French Guyana and Guadaloupe in the CONCACAF region, Reunion in the Indian Ocean and New Caledonia in the Pacific.
''We are French, but we are trying to expand our possibilities through FIFA by setting up programs,'' Lama said. ''We need better structure and a more professional spirit.''