Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are in a delicate situation when they play Panama in their final CONCACAF Group C encounter at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, USA tonight at 6:00 pm.

Panama leads the group with six points, three ahead of Jamaica and Guatemala on three points. Guadeloupe are at the bottom pointless.

Guatemala will face Guadeloupe at the same time Jamaica plays Panama and with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals, Jamaica are in a delicate situation where they not only must win, but win handsomely, to improve their goal difference.

As it stands, Panama have a plus four goal difference while both Jamaica and Guatemala have the same goal difference of zero but Jamaica are second based on scoring more goals. Guadeloupe with zero point have a goal difference of minus four.

Jamaica can draw and advance with four point if Guadeloupe beat Guatemala. The second scenario is that Jamaica can lose narrowly and Guadeloupe win narrowly and Jamaica are still through.

The meeting will be the third clash between the nations in Gold Cup history. Jamaica holds the upper hand with a win and a draw. The Reggae Boyz’ victory came in the 2019 quarterfinals in Philadelphia.

In the last ten all-time meetings between the two sides, Panama has the advantage with a 6-2-2 record.

Jamaica’s head coach, Steve McClaren, expects another tough game against a Panama team ranked higher than Jamaica.

“ We talked about the level, not just CONCACAF, but also Caribbean as well. There are no easy games now in football,” he pointed out

“I know Thomas (Christiansen) from Panama. I know the level that he coaches at. So, he’s worked with Panama for five years and you can see why they have made progress,” McClaren added.

“You improve the coaching, you get better coaches. You get better players. And I think that’s what the region has done,” he noted.

 “This is a very important tournament in which we wanted to do well. We said that from the very beginning. It always comes to a stage where the last, the third game is always must draw to go through, or you must win to go through, or you have to score so many goals to go through it,” said McClaren.

“You have to wait and see. The main thing we’re focusing on is beating Panama. That’s it,” said a confident McClaren.