The bets, which pay much more for a surprise victory, offer almost five times what was invested if Jamaica wins in its debut at the Copa América. And, although the team does not have a great history in football, it promises to make life difficult for its opponents in the United States.
To get in tune with the Conmebol teams, which sometimes have problems assembling their squads, Jamaica has also faced difficulties. Leon Bailey, Aston Villa striker, will not play for the national team, despite the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) having already announced him as one of the 26 called up.
Craig Butler, Bailey’s father and agent, recalled that the Premier League player had already announced that he was going to take a break and that, despite this, the JFF announced it. Bailey, sidelined since March due to alleged indiscipline, is a critic of his country’s football authorities, whom he accuses of lacking professionalism.
Although it can’t count on its best player, life goes on in Kingston and, as one of the songs by its famous artist, Bob Marley, says (“Don’t worry about a thing/Cause every little thing gonna be all right” – ” Don’t worry about anything, because every little thing will work out.”
Besides, the Jamaicans didn’t do badly without him. They have just beaten the Dominican Republic 1-0 and Dominica, at home, 3-2, in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Before, in March, they won third place in the last Nations League, which gave them a place in the Copa América (which will be played from June 20th to July 14th)
Reggae Boy Demarai Gray, getting ready for Copa America 2024. See you in Houston Dimmy! 🇯🇲♥️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/7JQaJJwuJG
— Official J.F.F (@jff_football) June 15, 2024
“Offensive talents”
Their coach, Icelandic Heimir Hallgrímsson, believes that his team’s recent victories in the Concacaf Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup bode well for the Copa América.
“In the last few games, we have always managed to score goals and, if we look at the team, we see that Jamaica is rich in offensive talent (…) These guys can score goals with their speed, with their skill,” he said in a recent interview with the channel local CVMbroadcast on the JFF website.
“Individual talent already says that you will score goals. There are a lot of goals in this team”, he considered.
Striker Shamar Nicholson (Clermont Foot 63, French Second Division), who scored against the Dominican Republic and scored a double against Dominica, midfielder Bobby DeCordova Reid (Fulham FC, English Championship) and striker Demarai Gray (Al -Ettifaq Club, from Saudi Arabia) are some of its highlights.
“But I also think that as a collective unit we are looking better to the future as the team plays more together,” added the 56-year-old coach and former defender.
It is clear that Jamaica usually suffers against high-ranking opponents from the same confederation, such as Mexico, against whom they debut on June 22, at the NRG Stadium, in Houston, in Group B. In the last five games they played, the Jamaicans lost three and drew two.
They will also face Ecuador in the initial phase, to whom they lost 1-0 in a friendly in 2018, and Venezuela, against whom they have never played.
Invited in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa América, the Jamaican team was eliminated without winning in the group stage.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
