With an important win wanted to spark Jamaica’s 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League marketing campaign, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren expressed confidence in his crew’s potential to rise to the event forward of their pivotal conflict in opposition to Honduras on Tuesday night time.
After a shock goalless draw at house in opposition to Cuba final Friday, Jamaica will now face a extra formidable problem in opposition to Honduras, who just lately trounced Trinidad and Tobago 4-0.
Tuesday’s encounter at 9:00 pm will see the Boyz touring to hostile territory in Honduras, however McClaren is assured that his gamers are able to deal with the stress. “We’ve received gamers who play in that hostile ambiance each week within the Premier League or the Championship. I count on them to cope with that and play with composure,” McClaren stated.
The Reggae Boyz boast a powerful current file in opposition to Honduras, having gone unbeaten of their final six conferences, together with a 1-0 win in September 2023 and an away victory in 2021 throughout World Cup qualifiers. Nonetheless, McClaren acknowledged the standard of Honduras, crediting head coach Reinaldo Rueda for the strides made by the Central American facet.
An enormous problem
“They’re an excellent crew, possession-based, good in transition, and powerful defensively. It’s an enormous problem, however I count on my gamers to just accept and cope with it, and we’ll work to get a consequence,” McClaren stated.
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Regardless of their early setback, the Reggae Boyz camp stays upbeat. Defender Amari’i Bell emphasised that the squad’s confidence stays intact. “We thought we might have gotten extra from the Cuba recreation, however we’re prepared to return with full pressure and get the three factors,” Bell stated, noting that whereas the setting in Honduras will likely be powerful, the crew is concentrated on securing a win.
For McClaren, Tuesday’s recreation represents an necessary step towards qualification for the quarter-finals of the Nations League. “We have to play properly and combat as a crew to get a consequence and put us again in competition to qualify,” he stated.
In squad information, there was one change, with reserve goalkeeper Conniah Boyce-Clarke being changed by Shaquan Davis of Mount Nice Soccer Academy.
