Latest News
‘It’s going to be a difficult game’
June 16, 2025
REGGAE BOYZ head coach Steve McClaren is not expecting another easy win when Jamaica take on Guatemala for the second time in a week, in their opening Group C match of the Concacaf Gold Cup at Dignity Health Tennis Center in California, at 9 p.m. today.
Jamaica blanked Guatemala 3-0 in their Group E, second-round World Cup qualifier last Tuesday in convincing fashion but McClaren said the circumstances are now very different and he expects a much more difficult challenge from the Central Americans today.
"It's going to be a difficult game. We played very well against them in the home game. But maybe we caught Guatemala at a good time because they had already qualified, and made some changes.
"But we took advantage and beat the team we had to beat. But tomorrow it will be a completely different game. That is what we expect. It is 0-0. So we will have to do it all over again. It will be a tough game, " McClaren said yesterday.
He pointed out that despite the familiarity with the opponent, they will prepare as they normally do for any game. However, he said the key is respecting their opponents, no matter how big or small.
"We make sure we respect the opponent, which we did before the (last) game. We respect them even more now because we know the potential that they've got."
The Reggae Boyz have made it to four of the last five Gold Cup semifinals, including two finals, and McClaren said the objective is to maintain their very high standard in the tournament and even go all the way this time.
However, he said it's important they start with a good performance and three points.
"The team is here to win. We are here to do well. And to do that we must start well tomorrow. We must collect three points and that will be a great start. We have to start the tournament well and make sure we get three points and then move on to the next game," he said.
He added that it is pleasing to have central defender Ethan Pinnock and striker Michail Antonio, who has recovered from his car accident, back in training with the squad
"We have developed the squad over the last three weeks, from the United Kingdom (Unity Cup) squad to the World Cup qualifying squad, and we have added a couple more.
"It is great to see Pinnock with us, and even better to see Antonio, both training this (Sunday) morning
"It improves our squad and the strength of it. We have got competition for places and that is what you want as a head coach, to make sure that there is competition in training and make training as hard as the games. But we must not be complacent tomorrow," he stated.
In 19 meetings between the teams, Jamaica hold the superior record with 12 wins and four draws. Guatemala have registered just three wins against the Caribbean side.
