1 week ago
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DESPITE HAVING already secured a spot in the third round of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren said the players will be gunning for the win when they take on Guatemala today in front of their home support at the National Stadium.
Jamaica will play hosts to the Central Americans in the final game of the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers with kick-off set for 6 p.m.
The Boyz sit second in Group E with a perfect nine points, level with Guatemala, who hold the advantage of group leaders due to a better goal difference.
With both teams having already secured their passage to the next round of qualifiers, today’s match will be a case of determining the final group placings with the tag of group winners on the line.
However, speaking yesterday in a pre-match press conference, McClaren said the fixture will also be about pride for the players, who are seeking to close out the group with a win and make up for a less-than-spectacular performance against the British Virgin Islands on Saturday.
“Every game is important for us. It is important to win the games. However you do that, you just need to find a way to win,” he said.
“We’ve got to do that against a very good Guatemalan team, who we face again in the Gold Cup, so it’s going to be an intriguing two games. We’re focused and we want to finish top of the group.”
McClaren continued, “I think both teams are delighted just to qualify for the final stages and we look forward to that. It’s more about our pride tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to getting back to play in Jamaica in front of the National Stadium.”
Today’s clash will be the third meeting in three years between the two nations, with Jamaica holding a positive record against the Central Americans, recording a win and a draw in their last two meetings.
McClaren said, however, it will not be an easy game, as he anticipates a strong challenge from the visitors.
For Jamaica to get by their opponents, McClaren said the Boyz will need to be more clinical when creating the opportunities in front of goal.
His comments come after a particularly poor showing against the British Virgin Islands on Saturday, when the team lumbered to a 1-0 win.
Jamaica has scored five goals in their three World Cup Qualifying games, far behind Guatemala’s tally of 13 against the same opponents.
McClaren bemoaned the team’s goalscoring inconsistency and said while they have been creating more chances, the onus is now on his attacking players to capitalise on their chances.
“The thing that I’m grappling with is that we’re creating a lot more chances, but we’re not scoring the goals from the chances. I think Saturday was a difficult game if you see the field.
“That’s our problem, I don’t think we’re converting our chances as often as possible in the games and certainly here, we have not scored the goals here.
“Sometimes you have 15 shots, and some other games, like against St Vincent, we had over 20 efforts at goal and we only scored one away from home and three at home, with two in injury time.
“I think we need now to see the goals from our wider players and from our midfield players.”
McClaren pointed to a few of the team’s attacking options as players who he believes can supply the goals for the squad.
He highlighted Rumarn Burrell, who had made his debut at the Unity Cup, and Jamaica Premier League Golden Boot winner Warner Brown as key.
He also praised the presence of Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray, Renaldo Cephas and Kaheim Dixon as pacey wingers who can prove a goal threat throughout the game.
For McClaren, however, while he has several options up top, he is still concerned regarding the team’s midfield depth as they approach today’s game and the Concacaf Gold Cup, set to begin next Monday.
Jamaica have been drawn in Group C of the Gold Cup and will face off against Panama, Guatemala and Guadeloupe.
English (US) ·