Jamaica Slips in World Rankings – Behind St. Kitts
Reggae Boyz flops, become third highest ranked Caribbean side
Jamaica’s recent poor form, after being ousted of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, has seen the Reggae Boyz slip down to world no.80 in today’s FIFA rankings. Falling nine places leaves the Boyz trailing Trinidad & Tobago (world no.69) as well as St. Kitts & Nevis (no.77) to become the third highest ranked Caribbean outfit.
Antigua & Barbuda (no.89) are hot on their heels after the Boyz were recently blown away 2-0 by comparative minnows Haiti. Their tepid display in Kingston against Haiti, who had failed to score in their previous five group matches before bagging a brace at the National Stadium, has resulted in neighbouring Haiti breaking out of the top 100 to climb to world no.93.
And to make matters worse Jamaica head coach Winfried Schäfer’s future is under scrutiny after he was suspended by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) prior to last week’s encounter against Haiti.
But this is deja vu as Schäfer’s job was on the line before, and he only escaped by shoring up his shoddy defence by relying on counter-attacks midway through their very fortunate Caribbean Cup triumph in Montego Bay two years ago.
Yet the German veteran became a celebrity in the world soccer arena when he stuck to his guns of resolute defending and physical counter-attacks to ease the Boyz unexpectedly into last year’s Gold Cup final.
But since that run all the opposition have studied his one-dimension tactics and delivered defeats on his toothless teams in competitive matches.
Apart from an incredible victory this term in Chile, when Schäfer’s regular troops were rested and the team comprised mainly of Jamaica-based players who were given freedom on the pitch, the rest of his results have been dire.
He was appointed with the main aim of reaching the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia, but his campaign faltered due to a lack of tactical nous and fielding a toothless team that failed to score goals.
Even for their recent must-win match in Panama Schäfer inexplicably preferred his side to defend, and they stuttered to a 2-0 defeat with just two shots mustered throughout the contest.
Theodore Whitmore, his predecessor, was relieved of his duties because JFF president Captain Horace Burrell didn’t want the Boyz to become a laughing stock on the field. Whitmore’s sides leaked goals, and initially so did Schäfer’s teams.
Schäfer tried to get the fans behind him when last year he went on record stating that he wanted more English-based players to represent Jamaica, but many of those plying their trade in the top tier preferred to represent England – their country of birth.
Yet in a complete U-turn, having both the frustrated fans and the JFF questioning why his sides were so disjointed, Schäfer has recently gone on record to say that he wants mainly Jamaican-based players to pull on the gold shirts for their country.
Regardless of whether Schäfer stays, pending the investigation about his behaviour following the Panama debacle, the JFF have to obtain the financial backing from Brazil to either continue with the German or to employ someone with fresh ideas.
Failure to even reach the final stages of their World Cup Qualifying campaign has proved costly in terms of financial reward as well as prestige on the international scene.
Captain Burrell is not a man afraid to wield the axe, but his hands are tied as the JFF cannot afford to pay a coach without financial assistance from Brazil.
If Jamaica continue their slide and totter further towards the world’s top 100 then the JFF will undoubtedly make a change.
The Boyz are a talented bunch of players individually, but as a unit fail to find a balance. The team has been built around new skipper Wes Morgan, captain of English Premiership champions Leicester City, but the midfield doesn’t knit together and the forwards aren’t given much of a chance as the balls are simply hoofed towards goal for them to chase.
So it is back to the drawing board for the JFF, who have to make a decision soon as to whether they want to progress under a new manager or aim for damage limitation with the defensive-minded Schäfer.
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