BERMUDA play their last really meaningful game in the Women's Pan Am Cup tonight, knowing a win against Mexico would see them secure a top six finish and a place in a World Cup qualifier at the end of the year.

The events of the last week at the National Sports Centre would suggest that a defeat is on the cards. In the last three games Bermuda have conceded 42 goals, 10 against Canada, seven against Trinidad and Tobago, and a whopping 25 on Wednesday night against Argentina.

They have failed to find the net themselves on all three occasions, and given their current form, do not seem likely to do so tonight.

However, Mexico are a side that like to attack, and leave gaps in defence when they do so. They are also slightly suspect mentally, and if Bermuda come into the game with some belief then anything might be possible.

First though they will have to put the events of Wednesday night behind them – something coach Gareth Tavares has already begun to do.

"I've spoken to the girls. Yes, it was 25-0, but I've already said if any of them want to speak about the score to me they can.

"I'll tell them 'goals scored doesn't matter, that was an experience for us that we will never have again in our lives'."

Tonight's game was always going to be the one Bermuda had to win, and they were always likely to face Mexico or Jamaica. Argentina meanwhile were always going to win, and it was only ever a case of by how many.

Given that, it would have been entirely understandable if Tavares had protected some of his more experienced players ahead of tonight's game. That he didn't says much for the spirit in the squad.

"I think we have to go out and give each game 100 percent otherwise, I would hate to go out there and not do that, it doesn't give respect to the opposition," he said.

"We do have a big game today, but we've had a day's rest and I think there has been enough time to recuperate for the players who got a little bit injured against Argentina.

"They put their bodies on the line, they fought until the end, some of them ran for 70 minutes. They put their hands up and said 'yes, I'll fight for you'. I'm very proud of them."

In tonight's other game, Canada and Jamaica will battle it out to see who else will finish in the top six – the business-end of the tournament starts tomorrow.

Argentina face Chile in the first semi-final at 12 p.m. with USA taking on Trinidad and Tobago at 2.30 p.m.

The smart-money will be on defending champions Argentina and USA facing each other in the final for the third consecutive time in the competition.

Gabriel Minadeo's side came out on top in 2001 and 2004, and should beat Chile comfortably. Not that Minadeo is being complacent about the threat his South American rivals pose.

"Argentina and Chile know each other pretty well, and we know how they play," he said. "The most important part is to control the counter-attacks of the Chilean team, and try to keep control of the score during the game so those counter-attacks are each time less dangerous."