Jamaica will be hunting a spot in the quarterfinal of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League when they host Honduras in a top-of-the-table clash at the National Stadium at 8 o’clock tonight.
Jamaica lead Group B with seven points from three games just ahead of Honduras sitting on six points. Nicaragua on four points are third with Cuba in the fourth spot, on three points.
The first and second-place finishers of each group in League A will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will join the four top-ranked League A teams – the United States of America, Mexico, Canada and Panama. Jamaica are coming off two crucial away wins against Honduras (2-1) and Nicaragua (2-0) and head coach Steve McClaren is expecting another good display from the Reggae Boyz, especially playing at home.
“We have put ourselves in a position on top of the group so we have to finish the job and that’s the message to the players. You are playing in from of your supporters so you are playing for them,” said McClaren.
“Based on the number of sessions that we had and the information given to the players, it’s a credit to where the team are at the moment,” said McClaren. “The first message from day one was be brave, take the ball and deal with the ball and that’s still the message and that’s what I have been impressed with.”
Meanwhile, one of the players who will deal with it is Demarai Gray, who played his first match on Jamaican soil a year ago against Honduras and is relishing another tough clash.
“The last game was very difficult, they have a lot of quality and are quite free in the way how they play. They are a physical team,” said Gray. “We are aware but will focus on what we do best and as long as we do that, we should win the game.”
McClaren said when he got the job the first game he looked at was the Honduras game from last year and it wasn’t the best but one quality stood out and that was Demarai Gray and he hopes he can deliver once again.
“We are still miles away from where we should be or what I want it to be. But the spirit of the players, the synergy, the resilience and they’ve got quality that’s why we won in Honduras and Nicaragua,” explained McClaren.
However, there could be some changes to the line-up, as, despite his man-of-the-match display against Nicaragua, Romario Williams could be on the bench as regular striker Mikhail Antonio should regain his starting spot. Midfielder Tyreek Magee should retain his starting role following his impressive display while defender Damion Lowe will miss the game with an accumulation of yellow cards and should be replaced Mason Holgate who made his debut last week as a central midfielder.
Captain Andre Blake should be between the sticks once again with the core of the team remaining the same. This meeting will be 30th overall across all competitions between Jamaica and Honduras with each side holding 12 wins in the all-time series and five draws.
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