KINGSTON, Jamaica – Although the scoreboard learn 1–0 in favor of the Reggae Boyz at full-time, there was no celebration in Steve McClaren’s voice.
For the top coach, Saturday’s uninspired World Cup qualifying win over the British Virgin Islands was not a step ahead — it was a warning flare.
With qualification stakes intensifying and a showdown with group co-leaders Guatemala looming, McClaren provided a sobering evaluation that pierced by way of the veneer of victory.
“We all know contained in the dressing room we could be higher, and we should be higher subsequent week in opposition to Guatemala,” he said emphatically.
From momentum to malaise
Solely per week earlier, Jamaica had first rate outcomes on the Unity Cup, defeating Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 and displaying grit in an exciting 2-2 draw with Nigeria earlier than narrowly shedding on penalties. However McClaren believes the promise of these performances was squandered in Saturday’s lackluster displaying.
“The most important disappointment for me was that we by no means adopted the efficiency that we had final week,” McClaren lamented.
Towards a low-ranked BVI facet that had but to win a match within the qualifiers, expectations had been sky-high. However what adopted was a torpid show marked by missed possibilities, a disjointed rhythm, and moments of discomfort that made the slim margin really feel perilously fragile.
No ruthlessness, no excuses
The Reggae Boyz had larger possession and carved out some alternatives, however their finish product alarmingly poor — one thing McClaren had warned in opposition to within the build-up.
“These video games are by no means fairly. Everyone thinks we must always beat them 5 – 6, and we had the probabilities to try this,” he admitted. “However our ending was very, very poor. And we have to enhance that as properly.”
Regardless of requires ruthlessness, Jamaica did not kill off the sport. Because the clock ticked down, even with the lion’s share of the ball, the Boyz regarded more and more weak. Goalkeeper Andre Blake was compelled to make key interventions, protecting the house crowd from witnessing an inconceivable equalizer.
“We wanted to attain a second purpose and we didn’t try this,” McClaren mirrored. “So we’re at all times going to be nervous within the final 10, quarter-hour.”
Respect for the opponent, however requirements should maintain
Whereas McClaren acknowledged the BVI’s enhancements underneath a brand new coach — significantly their defensive group and transitional play — he refused to lean on that as an excuse.
“Nothing stunning. We’ve watched them for a few video games… congratulations to them,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, he was unflinching in holding his personal staff accountable.
“I believed they made it very, very troublesome for us. The opponent and the pitch mixed collectively and didn’t enable for what we name free-flowing soccer,” he admitted. “However we’re not making no excuses — we must be higher than that.”
Complacency and chemistry: A contrasting image
What irked McClaren much more was the distinction between this efficiency and the current video games the place Jamaica, even shortstaffed, displayed fireplace and tactical readability. On Saturday, with a close to full-strength squad, the staff appeared oddly subdued.
“Possibly we got here right here with a little bit little bit of complacency and that confirmed in our gradual play,” he urged, carrying a wry smile that did little to masks his frustration.
“We’ve achieved properly within the earlier two video games when it comes to efficiency and outcomes. We didn’t comply with it up as we speak and that’s the largest disappointment.”
Wanting forward: A check of angle in opposition to Guatemala
Jamaica now turns its consideration to Guatemala, who defeated the Dominican Republic 4-2 and high Group E on purpose distinction. With each groups already certified for the following spherical, Tuesday’s match on the Nationwide Stadium is about momentum, message, and maturity.
“We now have to study from this and we’ve got to maneuver on rapidly,” McClaren insisted. “Guatemala will probably be a very completely different proposition, and we have to give a greater efficiency when it comes to that one.”
Greater than ways or kind, McClaren emphasised the mentality shift required for achievement transferring ahead.
“We’ve obtained to be higher than we had been as we speak when it comes to angle,” he mentioned. “What occurs in that dressing room subsequent will outline how we go ahead.”
