Everton: Demarai Gray will make Jamaica debut in Gold Cup opener

The United States Men’s National team will now turn their attention to the opening game of the 22/23 edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup after trouncing Canada 2-0 in the Concacaf Nations League final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada last evening.  Chris Richards became the first player in U.S. soccer history to score his first international  goal in a final with a towering header in the 12th minute.

Folarin Balogun became the second player in U.S. soccer history to score his first international goal in a final. The Arsenal F.C. wonderkid collected a sublime ball played through cleverly by Gio Reyna to his right side. Balogun showed  tremendous strength to hold his defender off and took a first-time shot with his right foot toward the near post, beating the Canadian custodian Borjan. Both goals were enough to hand USA their second straight Concacaf Nations League crown in as many years of the competition.

The USA team has slowly won back the hearts of the fans after missing out on qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The  USA team has now won three out of their last five straight appearance in a Concacaf Final: 2017, 2019, 2021 Gold Cup Finals and 2021 and 2023 Concacaf Nations League Finals.

They will go in hot pursuit  of  a record- joint 8th confederation championship as they tackle a rejuvenated Jamaican contingent on June 24th at the  Soldier Field in Chicago. USA have won 3 out of the last 5 Gold Cup, on their route to be crowned champion  they have won all three-opening game. They have never met Jamaica in an opening game and have only lost one opening game in the last 5 Gold Cup.

They were beaten 3-0 in the opener by Venezuela and lost 1-0 to Mexico in the final (2019). On the other hand, Jamaica did not qualify for the 2013 edition but have not lost an opening game since 2015 with second place their best finish after losing 2-1 to USA in the final  after winning their opener 2-0 over curacao (2017). USA have never won this competition back-to-back before but having done the feat with the CNL they are optimistic that they can get it done.

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach B.J. Callaghan has added another feather to his hat from the CNL and is hoping to add one more from the CGC with a mixture of young, uncapped players and wily experienced veterans. The squad sheet is labelled with players who have tournament action  to their names.

Among the list USA have  players with previous Gold Cup experience, with eight having won the competition at least once and 10 having reached a final. Arsenal’s Matt Turner and Atlanta’s Miles Robinson earned a spot on the 2021 Tournament Best XI, leading a total of six players to lift the ’21 championship trophy.

In addition, the squad features seven players from the 2022 FIFA World Cup team: Jesús Ferreira, Sean Johnson, Aaron Long, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Matt Turner and DeAndre Yedlin.

USA’s Coach Callaghan may opt to his favorite 4-3-3 formation in order to maintain USA impressive win ratio over Jamaica.  Callaghan may go with Deandre Yedlin and Matt Miazga to anchor the defense, with Aaron Long and Miles Robinson to provide width and some marauding runs down the flank.

The pace and astute passes from the middle will be orchestrated by Az Alkmaar Djordje Mihailovic and Venezia Gianluca Busio with Christian Roldan playing a deep role. USA have scored 16 goals in their last five opening games and if they are to add to that tally,  goals are expected from Jesus Ferreira, Cade Cadwell and Jordan Morris.

Despite the teams moving from city to city for games which mimics the format that the 2026 World Cup will embodies, Callaghan expects nothing less than 3 points.

Jamaica has hired the well-traveled Heimir Hallgrímsson to lead the Reggae Boyz to glory. Hallgrimsson, who led Iceland to Euro 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup has enough pedigree to get Jamaica over the line.

Hallgrimsson has replaced Coach Theodore Whitmore (former Reggae Boy) who is presently  the most successful coach of the Reggae Boyz at the Gold Cup. He oversaw the team as  only Caribbean nation to have reached the semifinal stage in three consecutive Gold Cups (2015, 2017, 2019).

Jamaica qualified for the Gold Cup by finishing runners up in Nations League A, Group A with a 1-0-3 record. Two of their three draws came against Mexico, including a brave performance in a 2-2 result at Azteca on the last match day. In 2017, the USA used Jordan Morris’ 88th minute winner to defeat Jamaica 2-1 in that year’s Gold Cup Final and Jordan is set to be among the goals again this tournament.

An intricate blend of local base and English based Jamaican players are set to achieve what no other Reggae Boyz team has achieved. Among the overseas based players that are set to showcase their immense  talent for Jamaica is Everton’s Demarai Gray and reigning Conference League champion West Ham’s Michail Antonio to provide the goals alongside local fan hero Shamar Nicholson.

This strike force will provide an element of speed, skill, finesse, and clinical finishing upfront. The fusion of adept  experience and youthful exuberance is set to send the fans in frenzy  and unsettle opposition defenses.

To spearhead the midfield trio is the in form Fulham midfielder Bobby Reid who will be playing his second Gold Cup tournament. To form the steel in the middle of the park with Reid is Barnsley’s Jonathan Russell and Preston North End’s Daniel Johnson. The midfield is balanced with capable players who can  dictate the tempo and orchestrate mesmerizing plays from the middle of the park. Their chameleon like vision and diverse passing range will be instrumental in creating scoring opportunities for the strikers.

Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock will join up with the team for the second game to strengthen the defense. He is absent due to a family emergency. Veteran Adrian Mariapper will form a brick wall in front of Goalkeeper Andre Blake with Damion Lowe. Out wide to stop any in rows that the USA wing backs may cause is Amari Bell and Kemar ‘Taxi’ Lawrence. With their defensive agility, dexterity, and preemptive awareness, they aim to keep opponents at bay. Jamaica is said to have one of the strongest team over the last ten years on paper and is expected to show that on the field.

The USA and Jamaica have met in the knockout stage of each of the last four Gold Cups: 2015 Semifinal (2-1 Jamaica win), 2017 Final (2-1 USA win), 2019 Semifinal (3-1 USA win), 2021 Quarterfinal (1-0 USA win). After that win in 2015 Jamaica became the first Caribbean team to advance to Gold Cup Final after beating the USA 2-1 in the semifinal and at least getting to the finals this year would consider to be a colossal failure.