1 month ago
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JAMAICA’S REGGAE Boyz face leaders Honduras in a crucial Concacaf Nations League, League A, Group B encounter at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Honduras today at 9 p.m. in what Reggae Boyz coach Steve McClaren anticipates to be a difficult challenge his players are expected to be able to handle.
Jamaica drew 0-0 with Cuba in their opening game at the National Stadium on Friday, and are two points behind joint leaders Honduras and Nicaragua.
McClaren pointed to the Hondurans’ progress under experienced coach Reinaldo Rueda, saying his players must be ready to face the challenge ahead of them.
“Five games unbeaten, it doesn’t surprise me. I think I watched the coach’s first game, which was against Jamaica in Jamaica. The team played very well then, and that was his first game.
“He has had over a year with them and you have seen how they developed. You have seen what he started with and what they are now. They have improved a lot,” he said.
“A very good team. Possession based. Like to keep the ball. Good in transition and strong defensively. So I am not surprised with their team that they are five games unbeaten.
“For us, it’s a huge challenge and one I expect my players to accept and deal with and get a result.”
With only the top two teams from the group guaranteed a place in the next round, defeat for Jamaica could all but end their hopes of moving to the next round, and McClaren noted the importance of getting three points from the fixture.
“Three points is a step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Nations League. So that is still the target. We played one game and we played very well to get a result.
“We hope to play well tomorrow (today) and fight as a team to get a result and put us back in contention to qualify,” he said.
He added that though their opponents have progressed very well and are a better team than they were a year ago, they will take the game in stride with three points at the forefront of their minds.
“We will take our game in stride and take tomorrow night as the most important one, one in which, as we take every game, we plan to win. We are prepared to win.
“We are not prepared to lose or to draw. How can we beat Honduras? That’s what we want to do and hopefully, with the performance, we will get the result.”
English (US) ·