10 Awesome Facts About Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz at the Gold Cup
The sense of belief in Jamaican football is perhaps at its highest since the Reggae Boyz qualified for World Cup 98.
Jamaica recently had an almost fairy tale run at the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 where the team finished in second place to Mexico.
The Gold Cup is the main football tournament of men’s national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Jamaica’s incredible performance created history in more ways than one.
Here are 10 awesome facts about the Reggae boyz and their history at the Gold Cup courtesy of The Jamaican Football Federation.
1.Jamaica is currently the only Caribbean nation in Gold Cup history to finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th. 4th in 1998, 3rd in 1993. ( The only other countries to achieve this are: Mexico, Costa Rica and the USA )
2.Jamaica is the only Caribbean nation to win the Fair Play Award in Gold Cup history. The Award has been in existence since the 2000 edition of the Gold Cup.
3.Gold Cup 2015 represents the first time Jamaica has beaten two North American teams in a single Gold Cup tournament. The Reggae Boyz defeated both Canada and The United States.
4.Jamaica finished atop their group in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They also topped their group in 2011 with the only difference being in that year’s edition of the Gold Cup, Jamaica earned 9 points from their 3 games.This year we earned 7 points following a 2-2 opening match draw with Costa Rica, followed by 1-0 victories over Canada and El Salvador.
5. 3 of Jamaica’s 8 goals in this year’s Gold Cup came after the 70th minute of the match.
6. 8 goals is the highest number of goals Jamaica has scored in a single Gold Cup tournament. This equals our previous highest achieved in 2005
7. Gold Cup 2015 was also the first time Jamaica won a quarter-final match at the prestigious tournament. Jamaica previously reached the semifinals in 1993 and 1998, but then there were no quarter-finals. After Group stages, it was straight to the semis.
8.This year’s tournament also marks first time in Gold Cup history that 3 Jamaican players scored at least 2 goals in the tournament. ( Mattocks,Barnes,McCleary)
9.Jamaica has been to the Gold Cup 9 times since it was first established in 1991, and we have made it out of the group stages on 6 occasions.
10.Prior to Jamaica victory over Canada, the last Caribbean team to beat them in the Gold Cup was Martinique in 2013.
Jamaica did very well?,just needs to identify e few killer strikers that will give you 110% over time and ball hungry. Perhaps a few school boys may assist .many times the ball is forward but the striker needs assistance, even if Jamaica goes forward the counter attack needs another player or two to split the opposition defense. Overall a much better rounded team. Good job to marlon and his efforts in the Final.