2 months ago
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Following their perfect run in the second round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying, the Reggae Boyz will be entering the Concacaf Gold Cup high on confidence. However, head coach Steve McClaren said consistency will be key if they are to be successful in their campaign.
The Boyz ended their second round of World Cup Qualifiers with four wins in as many games, and a statement 3-0 win over Guatemala at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
McClaren, while filled with praises for the squad on their win, said they will need to keep their high standard consistent as they head into the Gold Cup.
The Boyz have been drawn in Group C alongside Panama, Guatemala and Guadeloupe and will begin their campaign with a clash against Guatemala on June 16.
“The key in football is always consistency,” McClaren said. “It’s just the standard that the players have set. That’s what I said, you’ve set that with the work rate, discipline and organisation. That’s a simple recipe for being able to win games.”
He continued, “The goal is the World Cup and this is part of it, to finish top and get into pot one so that’s been achieved. Now we build in the Gold Cup.”
Jamaica will take on Guatemala in their opening match at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, just six days after their prior meeting at the National Stadium.
LOOKING FOR REVENGE
McClaren said the players will need to be at their best to ensure they can get past Guatemala for a second time, as the Central Americans will be surely looking for revenge.
“Guatemala made some changes, coming from an emotional high, so you could see it affected them and they’ll be raging come Monday and dying to play us again,” he said.
“It is two different games totally. We will probably have a different team for the second game and they probably will have a different team as well.”
For Jamaica to move past the group stage, McClaren said every player will have to play their role, and stated that there is no guaranteed starting position due to the high level of competition within the squad.
“You cannot win modern-day football without 11 players, all organised, disciplined and working hard,” he explained.
“We’re building a squad where everybody else on the bench fits into what we’re trying to do on the field.
“There’s competition for places and I think that was the message that nobody comes here and should expect to play automatically,” McClaren said. “They have to earn the right and now they’ve earned the right to play, now they’ve got to earn the right to stay in that shirt because the competition behind them is very good.”
English (US) ·