Boyz Gunning to Go After Shooting Blanks at Copa America
Jamaica’s coach Schäfer brings in local strikers for Gold Cup
Jamaica’s lack of a goal in last month’s Copa America debut has seen head coach Winfried Schäfer include two locally-based strikers in the 23-player squad to tackle the Gold Cup tournament.
Despite Jamaica’s stealth in midfield and solid defence during the prestigious Copa America competition in Chile, which resulted in three 1-0 reversals, it is at the other end of the pitch that there are concerns.
Traditionally the Reggae Boyz have struggled to score against sides outside the Caribbean region, and the rot seems to have set in again after they drew a blank in Chile against Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
But the Boyz have opted to take a bit of a gamble by adding a pair of forwards who ply their trade in Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League rather than rely on scorers with overseas experience.
The rawness of Arnett Gardens’ Andre Clennon and Montego Bay United’s Alan Ottey could be the perfect solution for perplexed Schäfer to complete his conundrum.
Jamaica have picked six strikers for the Gold Cup competition, to be played in Canada and the United States from July 7-26.
Clennon and Ottey join the Copa America misfiring trio of Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Simon Dawkins (Derby County) and Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps), with Swedish-based hot-shot Michael Seaton (Orebro) back in the squad for the first time since November’s shock Caribbean Cup triumph.
Ottey came through the youth team at Montego Bay United and made his full team debut in 2011, with the 22-year-old having notched 19 goals from 91 matches.
Clennon is a different proposition and was snapped up by Jamaica’s leading outfit Waterhouse as a 17-year-old from Naggo Head and after six years, which included a six-month spell playing in Vietnam, moved to Arnett Gardens.
The Portmore-born 25-year-old had only represented the Boyz once, as an 81st substitute during their 2011 3-2 friendly success in front of a sell-out crowd against hosts El Salvador. And Clennon may well get his opportunity to face El Salvador this time as they are one of the three teams in Jamaica’s Group.
Costa Rica are the first opponents for Jamaica, they are due to meet on July 8 at the Stubhub Centre in Los Angeles.
Paulo Wanchope, 38, is head coach of the side world ranked no14 by FIFA. And the former prolific striker was only appointed in January after taking over as interim coach – elevated from assistant coach following Jorge Luis Pinto’s departure after Costa Rica’s 2014 World Cup campaign.
He has carved out some impressive results since taking over the hot-seat, which includes winning September’s Copa Centroamericana competition.
A contest against Canada follows on July 11, Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium is the setting (5.30pm ko local time).
Canada, who stunned Jamaica 3-1 in September’s friendly when the Reds were at their lowest ebb and hit their worse ever world ranking position of no122, have not conceded a goal in their past four matches and under former Real Madrid manager Benito Floro and are gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with.
El Salvador, FIFA-ranked no89, have been coached by ex-Barcelona assistant manager Albert Pujol since last year. The Spaniard swiftly arranged a financially rewarding friendly against a full-strength Spain side once taking charge, and his charges were narrowly defeated 2-0.
And lack of goals, like world no65 side Jamaica, remains their big problem.
El Salvador failed to score in their opening four friendlies this year but last month found the back of net, albeit in their World Cup Qualifiers against minnows St. Kitts & Nevis, courtesy of a 2-2 stalemate in Basseterre and a comfortable 4-1 success in the home leg in San Salvador.
With Jamaica’s physical presence and the ability to soak up the pressure before going on the counter-attack, then only the technically superior Costa Rica should offer the Boyz any real threat in their opening group games.
A dozen CONCACAF teams will compete for the Gold Cup trophy with three from North America, five from Central America and four from the Caribbean.
Holders USA head an easy group A with ties against Haiti, Honduras and Panama to negotiate.
And Mexico are overwhelming favourites to top their group that comprises out-of-sorts Cuba, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago.
Jamaica could be better off finishing as group runner-up as they will tackle the runner-up from the group containing Mexico with bitter rivals Trinidad & Tobago their most likely opponent.
However, if they top the group they face the runner-up from the group headed by favourites USA meaning that world no54 Panama or world no75 Honduras will be next for Schäfer’s Boyz.
As well as taking the prestigious crown, the winning team automatically qualifies for a play-off to determine which CONCACAF team participates at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, a 2018 World Cup dress rehearsal that features the champion from each region in the world including Germany (as World Cup champions) and Russia (as 2018 World Cup hosts).
But, as ever for Jamaica – even since the days of the formidable striker Walter Boyd – it is goals that are required to win matches and Schäfer’s test to pick someone who can be their lethal weapon.
JAMAICA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Duwayne Kerr (Sarpsborg 08), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska) and Ryan Thompson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
Defenders: Daniel Gordon (Karlsruher), Michael Hector (Reading), Kemar Lawrence (NY Red Bulls), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace), Demar Phillips (Real Salt Lake), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo) and Wes Morgan (Leicester City)
Midfielders: Rodolph Austin (Unattached), Joel Grant (Yeovil), Christopher Humphrey (Preston North End), Joel McAnuff (Leyton Orient), Garath McCleary (Reading) and Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas)
Forwards: Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Andre Clennon (Arnett Gardens), Simon Dawkins (Derby County), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps), Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United), and Michael Seaton (Orebro)
GROUP A: USA, Haiti, Honduras and Panama
GROUP B: Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Jamaica
GROUP C: Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago
GROUP B FIXTURES
July 8: Costa Rica v Jamaica (Stubhub Centre, Los Angeles, 5pm ko local time)
July 11: Canada v Jamaica (BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, 5.30pm ko local time)
July 14: El Salvador v Jamaica (BMO Field, Toronto, 6pm ko local time).
KNOCKOUT FIXTURES
July 18: Group A Winner v 3rd Place Group B or Group C
July 19: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-Up
July 19: Group C Winner v 3rd Place Group A or Group B
July 20: Group B Runner-Up v Group C Runner-Up
July 22: Semi-final
July 23: Semi-final
July 25: 3rd/4th Play-off
July 27: Final
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