Worldwide soccer returns to Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium on Friday night when Jamaica’s senior soccer workforce hosts Honduras within the opening recreation of Group B of League A of the CONCACAF Nations League 2023-24.
Kick-off is slated for 9:10 pm (8:10 pm Jamaica time).
CONCACAF introduced a slight change to the format of the competitors earlier this 12 months with League A now consisting of 16 groups versus 12, and that includes a quarter-final section as an alternative of a semi-final spherical instantly after the group stage.
The highest 4 ranked groups in League A as of March this 12 months – Mexico, USA, Costa Rica and Canada – obtained byes to the quarter-final spherical, whereas the opposite 12 have been divided into two teams of six every.
Group A consists of Panama, Curacao, Guatemala, El Salvador, Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago, whereas Group B has Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, Cuba, Suriname and Grenada.
Every workforce in League A will play 4 matches towards group opponents – two at house and two away. The highest 4 groups will advance to the quarter-finals and shall be joined by the 4 top-ranked groups within the CONCACAF rankings as at March 2023.
The 4 groups advancing from the group stage shall be drawn into ties towards the top-ranked groups which shall be performed on a two-legged, house and away foundation. The 4 quarter-final winners will advance to the Nations League Finals which retains its earlier format of a semi-final spherical, third-place play-off and remaining match to find out the champions.
Highway to the Copa America
The 2023-24 Nationwide League A will even decide the six CONCACAF groups which can qualify as company for the 2024 Copa America in america. The quarter-finals winners will qualify on to the match, whereas the losers will advance to a qualifying play-off, that includes two single-leg matches.
So there’s a lot to play for and each coaches are conscious of the significance of scoring a win tonight.
Jamaica has loved the higher of the Central People in current occasions, registering 4 wins and a draw within the final 5 contests between the 2 nations.
However the Honduras Soccer Federation has re-employed Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda, the person who guided Honduras to the FIFA World Cup again in 2010 in South Africa.
Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson weighs in
The workforce has modified over the previous few years and continues to rebuild however Jamaica’s coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is properly conscious of their progress.
“Honduras are an excellent workforce, a really bodily one as we’ve watched them on the Gold Cup and analysed them. We all know their gamers and capabilities, and we expect we’re ready for that,” the coach stated at Thursday’s pre-game press convention.
And although consideration to particulars on the opponents is essential to any success, Hallgrimsson additionally desires to enhance his workforce, particularly within the attacking space, which confirmed weaknesses within the Gold Cup.
“So, we had been on the whole happier, like I stated earlier than the squad was introduced. We talked about a few issues that we have to enhance from the Gold Cup, going ahead, and we actually touched on taking part in towards Honduras, particularly. We have to put some emphasis on some particulars of defending however largely attacking. I’m not going to inform you what that’s, however we are going to tweak some issues from the Gold Cup that we have to enhance and we anticipate shall be efficient towards them.”
Extra on Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson
The Jamaican squad has been pressured into just a few adjustments with Michail Antonio, Dexter Lembikisa and captain Andre Blake being changed by Romario Williams, Javain Brown and Kemar Foster, respectively.
Demario Phillips had already changed Cory Burke.
Antonio has private points to unravel, whereas Lembikisa suffered a bone bruise and is unable to coach. Blake is affected by flu-like signs and is a late withdrawal.
Nonetheless, the Jamaica coach says preparations have gone in addition to might have been anticipated, although gamers proceed to affix the group on the final minute.
“Few days after all the travelling takes out one preparation day from us, so we’ve had two good coaching session days with conferences, however we’re getting within the final gamers now.”
Jamaica’s upcoming matches and squad listing
The Reggae Boyz will comply with up with one other house recreation subsequent Tuesday towards Haiti on the similar venue.
Jamaican squad: Goalkeepers – Jahmali White, Conniah Boyce-Clarke, Kemar Foster; defenders – Damion Lowe, Tayvon Grey, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Dishon Bernard, Javain Brown, Adrian Mariappa, Greg Leigh; midfielders – Kasey Palmer, Joe; Latibeaudiere, Daniel Johnson, Kevin Lambert, Bobby Reid, Demario Phillips; forwards – Leon Bailey, Romario Williams, Demarai Grey, Dujuan Richards, Renaldo Cephas, Shamar Nicholson.
