Team overview
By Paul Tenorio | @PaulTenorio |
Those three Copa America losses were the only three defeats for the Reggae Boyz over a stretch of eight months and 14 games, with the 3-1 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final dealing the next blow. Since then, however, the wins have been a bit harder to come by for Jamaica. They’ve beat Nicaragua and Haiti in World Cup qualifying, but losses to Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica have the Reggae Boyz sitting in third place in their group.
Jamaica remains one of the more athletic teams in the region, but it’s been their ability to stay in close games that helped them pull off upsets in the Gold Cup. The Reggae Boyz won all four of their games by one goal, most notably a 2-1 upset of the U.S. They’ll need similar defensive efforts to escape a loaded group this summer.
Key player
Andre Blake – The same player that has been such an important part in the resurgence of the Philadelphia Union in MLS this season should be considered the biggest difference-maker for Jamaica.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, has started to look like the player many expected he would be coming out of college. Over the first portion of the season, the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Blake has been fantastic in between the pipes for Philadelphia, taking a team that was at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last year and putting them near the top of the standings this year.
Blake has played in five World Cup qualifying games for Jamaica so far and has had some stronger performances bookended by two games in which the Reggae Boyz allowed three goals, losses to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Still, Blake has matured this season with Philadelphia and has the ability to turn the game in net. He may be the factor that keeps Jamaica in the running in one of the toughest groups in the tournament.
Manager spotlight
Like the U.S., Jamaica dipped into the German coaching pool for its manager. Winfried Schäfer is the man in charge of the Reggae Boyz, and he’s guided the side since 2013. The former German midfielder coached at the club level in Germany beginning in 1982 through 2000 before taking over Cameroon’s national team for three years, where he won the African Cup of Nations. Upon taking over Jamaica, Schäfer has looked to integrate a more organized approach into a team that has plenty of talent.
Schäfer’s pool contains several proven options, including Leicester City captain Wes Morgan and a plethora of MLS veterans: Vancouver Whitecaps’ forward Darren Mattocks, Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes, New York Red Bulls left back Kemar Lawrence, San Jose midfielder Simon Dawkins and New England midfielder Je-Vaugh Watson among them.
Schäfer has shown a willingness to change up the team’s style of play. They fielded a 5-4-1 in a loss to Costa Rica on the road in qualifying, but only days before had run a 4-5-1 in a 1-1 draw with the Ticos. In the 2-1 upset over the U.S. last year, however, Jamaica came out in a traditional 4-4-2. Schäfer’s preference is to find a tactical advantage more than implementing a rigid system play, and it is a trend likely to continue this summer.
Success looks like…
Getting out of group play.
Jamaica made quite an impression with its deep run through the Gold Cup, but it’s a tall task to ask them to replicate anything like it during the Copa America. While some may say the U.S. ended up in the “Group of Death” in this tournament, it’s just as easy to argue that Group C should be considered the toughest assemblage. Mexico and Uruguay both have teams strong enough to make a deep run in this tournament, and if you finish second in the standings you’re likely staring down a knockout game against Group D favorites Argentina.
Considering Jamaica’s shaky start to World Cup qualifying, finding a way to pull off an upset in the group stages and getting to that next round match-up with Lionel Messi and Co. would be a major coup. Jamaica has not beat Mexico since 2008 and hasn’t bested Uruguay since 2004, though it did play La Celeste close in last year’s Copa. Finding a way to pull off another major upset as they did last summer in the Gold Cup would have to be considered a win, even if that run ends early in the knockout stages.
Failure looks like…
Finishing at the bottom of the group and failing to at least show out as it did in last year’s Copa tournament.
Jamaica went winless in last year’s Copa America but still made an impression against some of South America’s top teams. Going winless this time around probably wouldn’t be perceived the same way. Jamaica opens up against a Venezuela team that has struggled mightily in CONMEBOL qualifying, and no doubt the Reggae Boyz look at that match-up as a game they should win.
Failing to collect three points against Venezuela would be considered a letdown for Jamaica, which looked ready to establish itself as a true player in CONCACAF along with the top-three of Mexico, Costa Rica and the U.S. A 2-0 loss to Panama and a 3-0 loss to Costa Rica in qualifying has already started to cause some concern for the Reggae Boyz. While games against Mexico and Uruguay will be a proving ground, blowout losses in those games would constitute a significant step backwards in just one year’s time.
