CONCACAF Nations League Quarterfinals: Scouting Jamaica

The United States Men’s National Team enters the CONCACAF Nations League as the three-time defending champions, having claimed the title at every edition of the competition that was founded in 2018. In the current tournament, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad skipped past the group stage and advanced straight into the knockout rounds, placed as the third seed based on the regional rating index. Jamaica is waiting across the field and looking to play spoiler in the two-leg quarterfinal, as the Caribbean program continues to add talent to the depth chart in the hopes of qualifying for a second-ever World Cup. The first match is set for Independence Park, a 35,000-seat venue with a natural grass surface located in the capital city of Kingston; St. Louis, Missouri’s CITYPARK – a 22,423-seat soccer specific stadium with a NorthBridge Bermudagrass surface – hosts the second fixture.

These are the 34^th and 35^th all-time meetings between the two nations, with the USMNT holding a 20-3-10 advantage and triumphing in extra time (3-1) in the most recent rendezvous during March’s Nations League semifinal. Ranked 61^st internationally by FIFA, Jamaica had a dismal experience at the summer’s Copa América with a fourth-place showing in Group B, losing to Mexico (0-1), Ecuador (3-1), and Venezuela (0-3). The Reggae Boyz reached the knockout stage in the current competition by finishing atop League A Group B with a draw against Cuba (0-0), a victory and a tie with Honduras (2-1, 0-0), and a win over Nicaragua (2-0).

Following the “abrupt resignation” of Heimir Hallgrimsson, the Jamaica Football Federation appointed Steve McClaren to the manager role in July on a two-year contract. The 63-year-old has an extensive résumé that includes stops at Middlesbrough, England, Twente, VfL Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Newcastle United, and Queens Park Rangers, with his most-recent job as a Manchester United assistant. He had “no hesitation in accepting a position that is suited to [him] at this stage of [his] career,” noting the country’s “potential” that has “grown significantly” with a “bright future [that] lies ahead.”

McClaren named a 24-player roster for the two-leg series, a squad that includes several key returners. The overwhelming majority of the group competes abroad, with a mere two call-ups based in the domestic Jamaica Premier League. Supporting attacker Bobby De Cordova-Reid is absent “due to injuries and the anticipated birth of his child.”

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GOALKEEPERS (3): Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Jahmali Waite (El Paso Locomotive), Shaquan Davis (Mount Pleasant)

DEFENDERS (9): Dexter Lembikisa (Yverdon-Sport), Tayvon Gray (New York City FC), Damion Lowe (Al-Okhdood), Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Richard King (Cavalier), Di’Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday), Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Greg Leigh (Oxford Town)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City), Isaac Hayden (Newcastle United), Karoy Anderson (Charlton Athletic), Kasey Palmer (Hull City), Tyreek Magee (Colorado Springs Switchbacks)

FORWARDS (7): Leon Bailey (Aston Villa), Kaheim Dixon (Charlton Athletic), Shamar Nicholson (Spartak Moscow), Romario Williams (Indy Eleven), Demarai Gray (Al-Ettifaq), Renaldo Cephas (Ankaragücü), Michail Antonio (West Ham United)

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Sticking to a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 formation that fits the existing player pool, McClaren has described himself as a “flexible and tactical coach instead of an attacking or defensive one,” who puts a focus on “just winning” with the “fundamentals and basics.” In addition to Jamaica’s success in transition, he is attempting to introduce some element of a possession game in order to maintain more control over proceedings. However, the bread and butter remains direct play with long passes over the top, individual heroics, quick-strike plays into the final third, and taking advantage of set pieces.

Through several managers and generations of Jamaican soccer, there remains a constant over the past decade: Andre Blake is the number one. The 33-year-old Philadelphia Union goalkeeper has struggled with injury issues in 2024 but should be ready to play against the USMNT, bringing his confidence at “covering his backline and restarting attacks.” He has great athleticism as well as a “pivotal preparedness,” which enables him to “split his attention between the [opponent]” while also “identifying threats off of the ball.” Decidedly more of a shot-stopper than a box-controller, his ability to block efforts from short and long distances is a stunning display that can rescue points.

Former England C international Ethan Pinnock joined the program in 2021 and made sporadic appearances but has started seven consecutive fixtures, providing his physical nature and aerial success. The 31-year-old Brentford centre-back can also dominate the possession-based build-up as evidenced by a recent performance that saw him as the most-accurate passer on the field against no less than Manchester City. Another veteran, Damion Lowe, should fill the other spot, with the six-foot-three defender having recently departed the Philadelphia Union for Al-Okhdood in the Saudi Pro League. He is an imposing presence, retains some decent mobility for his age, and makes the expected impact on both sliding tackles and in the air, particularly when challenging for set pieces.

Oxford United’s Greg Leigh should be familiar after scoring the early opener in March’s Nations League, bringing “balance on the wing” along with “power and a natural physicality” that manifests in both sides of the game. He is considered a good presence in the locker room and gets involved with constant runs and challenges for headers, capable of playing in possession and searching to unlock opponents. Talented youngster Dexter Lembikisa has been considered a player on the verge of a breakout for the past few seasons, with the “shining product of the Wolverhampton academy” demonstrating dangerous dribbling, strong one-on-one defending, productive passing, and “electric pace.” The 21-year-old on-loan Yverdon-Sport fullback has an effortless nature on the ball with a constant desire to push forward and an intelligence in high-pressure situations that belies his age, with occasional goal-scoring contributions. There’s also the possibility for the experienced Amari’i Bell to factor into proceedings, as the Luton Town defender has recovered from his hamstring injury and brings a fierce athleticism and desire to push the tempo. There’s a method to the seeming madness of his all-action style with swashbuckling ventures, emphatic sliding challenges, and audacious and speculative distribution that can surprise opponents.

Former England youth international Joel Latibeaudiere entered the program in 2022 and quickly became a line-up fixture, proving a steadying defensive presence and a calm passing outlet while under pressure. He can also be deployed at fullback and centre-back and is a “tidy” player who is “comfortable with the ball at his feet” and “can play on the deck” with a positional discipline that keeps him moored to a deeper area. Kasey Palmer is another former Lion who has stepped into a key role for Jamaica, adding a creative spark as a player who “tries to create and score goals” with “creativity in the final third.” The 28-year-old Hull City midfielder is an accurate passer, makes an impact in all phases of the game, and can drill shots and distribution from all manner of distances, taking on the super-eight role that drives 4-4-2 formations.

With his first roster inclusion of the year, Leon Bailey has the potential to make an outsized impact on the squad with his electric pairing of pace and creativity, combining to form what are described as “penetrative qualities.” He has yet to score this season for Aston Villa but possesses an unmatched dynamism that enables him to shift results with the crucial pass or a superlative solo effort. Tyreek Magee of Colorado Springs Switchbacks is a versatile option who boasts “tremendous ability on the ball” and “a strong work ethic, vision, and awareness” that continue to grow. His calmness and composure are useful during the build-up, with a soft touch, evasiveness, and measured distribution helping the squad to work out of pressure and then advance into deeper areas.

While yet to feature heavily under the new manager due to fitness concerns, the imposing six-foot-four Shamar Nicholson might be a necessity in a line-up that is composed of several pacy and creative attackers, with his power game providing a contrast. He can dominate in the box with constant header wins but also possesses a devastating shot from distance, whether hitting a blast into the roof of the net or placing his finish into the lower corners. Demarai Gray had a hot start to his Jamaica career with five goals in 2023, but his production has slowed despite a high level of pace and directness to match “success in one-on-one duels” and “overall reaction time.” The Al-Ettifaq attacker has creativity for days and presents a danger when operating in the wide areas and on the counter, dancing on the ball before pushing into the box. No longer in his peak years and ineligible in the first match due to card accumulation, Michail Antonio must be a key scoring option if Jamaica is going to hit the next level, with his multifaceted abilities and magnetism to the ball. The 34-year-old West Ham forward pounces on loose opportunities, outplays his five-foot-eleven height to beat defenders in the air, and can finish from 25 yards out when given the space.

At some point, Jamaica is going to find the right balance of homegrown talent and late-arriving dual nationals, ascending to new heights as a program and becoming firmly established as one of the top outfits in CONCACAF. Unfortunately, the quarterfinal round of this tournament is unlikely to be the juncture at which point the next step is taken, as the USMNT has a strong group of players that has enjoyed success at the club level this fall. This is the first true test for Pochettino, and while the Nations League is far from the pinnacle of glories, a fourth consecutive title would begin his tenure on a harmonious note.

The away match is scheduled for Thursday, November 14^th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock, and Fubo TV (free trial).

The home leg is scheduled for Monday, November 18^th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock, and Fubo TV (free trial).