Out-Of-Sorts Reggae Boyz To Tackle Familiar Elite Nations In Nations League
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are in the 12-nation top group for the CONCACAF Nations League trophy, which kicks off in May, and will need a vast improvement if they are going to make an impact.
The Boyz, whose recent dismal record saw Theodore Whitmore leave his role as head coach for a third time in December, are most likely to have a new head coach for these highly competitive matches.
Paul Hall was promoted from assistant manager to take the reins for Jamaica’s remaining six CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches. He kicked off his interim role with a 3-0 reversal in Peru, with a largely under-strength team, but has since lost a trio of qualifiers to end up with an unwanted 100 percent losing record.
Jamaica’s 1-0 reversal to visiting Costa Rica last week saw the Boyz eliminated from reaching the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar. However, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) have lodged a complaint with FIFA, claiming that Costa Rica fielded COVID-positive players. If football’s governing body make a U-turn and award the Caribbean side maximum points then the Boyz at least have a glimmer of hope in reaching Qatar 2022.
But the Boyz can bounce back following their final three World Cup qualifiers in March by installing a new coach and tackle the Nations League full of positivity.
The Nations League draw in Miami takes place in April, with Jamaica having been promoted – alongside El Salvador, Grenada and Suriname – to League A. There will be four groups of three round-robin games with the top team progressing to the Nations League Finals in 2023.
The United States, as defending champions of the inaugural tournament, will be seeded as one of the leading three nations along with other teams that qualify for the World Cup finals including the fourth-placed side who will compete in an inter-confederation play-off in June.
As it stands the four top-seeded teams in Pot 1 will compromise USA, Canada, Mexico and either Costa Rica, El Salvador or Panama (who are chasing 4th place in the World Cup qualifiers).
Jamaica will go into Pot 2 with other sides competing in the World Cup qualifiers. These are Honduras and the remaining two sides from Costa Rica, El Salvador or Panama.
Curaçao are the stand-out danger in Pot 3. Other nations are Grenada, Martinique and Suriname.
Although the runner-up spot in League A does not result in being rewarded, the stakes are high to avoid finishing rock bottom of the group as this will result in being relegated to League B for the next Nations League competition.
League B comprises 16 teams, with four groups of four nations and the heavyweight sides of Haiti, Nicaragua and Trinidad & Tobago. The fourth-placed team in each League B group will drop to League C.
St. Kitts & Nevis are the eye-catching side in the 13-team League C that features minnows such as the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos.
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