The U.S. men’s national team now knows who will be suiting up across from them in the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.
Michail Antonio, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and Andre Blake headlined Heimir Hallgrimsson’s 23-player roster for the March 21 showdown with the Americans. Star attacker Demarai Gray is in the squad, but is suspended for the semifinal tie, while Leon Bailey was not selected due to disciplinary reasons.
Jamaica has only earned three victories over the USMNT in 32 prior meetings, last defeating the Americans in June 2019. Hallgrimsson has certainly impressed in his recent time as head coach, losing just one of his last nine matches in charge.
Antonio and De Cordova-Reid will headline the Reggae Boyz’s attack, with both continuing to feature regularly in the English Premier League. Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake remains a key cog on the back end, while Damion Lowe and Michael Hector are the experienced defenders in the current squad.
Should Jamaica pull the semifinal upset over the USMNT, it will meet either Mexico or Panama in March 24th’s final.
The full Jamaica roster can be found here:
Antonio is dangerous of course but without Gray or Bailey, their attack will be pretty one-dimensional. Those two absences should really hurt them, gives us a definite edge on paper. As long as we mark Antonio and account for their speed, they should have a real hard time scoring. Meanwhile we have multiple mids and forwards in great form…
That’s a Jamaica squad that can beat us if we don’t show up to play. Blake’s a keeper that can stand on his head at times and that forward line is deadly. They’re pretty meh through the midfield – mostly English League One guys – but they’ve got several MLS starters on defense.
It was not an accident they beat Canada. That’s as strong a Jamaica side as I’ve ever seen. They’re good enough I view this as a survive-and-advance game…just get it done, and style points don’t matter, and while I wouldn’t smile about an ugly 1-0 win I’d certainly take it. We definitely need a strong showing from our midfield because that’s where our biggest edge is.
Without Gray, Bailey, and Nicholson against us that forward line is greatly reduced. Antonio wasn’t very inspired in the GC but this won’t be shortening his summer vacation like that tournament did. Blake is coming off an injury and hasn’t been up to his normal form so far. They finally have a manager who isn’t in the pocket of the Jamaican league and has Euro cred with the dual nats playing in Europe.