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Jamaica’s Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson insists that a number of positives came from the Reggae Boyz failed Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, but in the same breath, admitted that they still have much to work on, particularly, their defending.

Hallgrimsson fielded one of the strongest, if not the strongest team, on paper, in the tournament where individual quality is concerned, give the presence of English Premier League players, Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Bobby Reid and Leon Bailey.

Each of those players had a significant hand in Jamaica’s 1-1 draw against United States, followed by 4-1, 5-0 and 1-0 victories over Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis and Guatemala, respectively.

However, from a collective perspective, the Reggae Boyz chemistry was woefully lacking and their limitations in defence and midfield were exposed in the 0-3 semi-final loss to Mexico at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on Wednesday.

“We are still a work in progress, some of these guys are playing for Jamaica for the first time so knowing the tactics and teammates, we hope, will improve over time so let’s see,” Hallgrimsson said.

 “I think throughout this tournament, we grew as a team we know more about each other both on and off the pitch, I think that is a good experience for us to have spent this almost five weeks together. So, they have learnt more about me, and my strengths and weaknesses and we (the coaching staff) have learnt more about the players.

“And then partnerships within in the team has grown, it is hard to say after a loss like this that we have improved as a team, but I am going to say it anyway and I think the future for Jamaica’s national team is bright, if we do it in a correct way and continue to do it in a correct way,” he added during a post-game press conference.

After Henry Martin’s second-minute goal was followed by Luis Chavez’s 30^th-minute strike, the Reggae Boyz never really recovered, even though they gradually grew in the game and showed more attacking purpose, particularly at the backend of the second half.

But their push to pull one back left them open and that, coupled with their poor defending, resulted in substitute Roberto Alvarado (90+3), adding another.

“What we did poorly was stopping the crosses and when they had free crosses then it was difficult to stop the players, but our defending in general, I will have to look at that. I think collectively we weren’t as good, both defending and attacking,” said Hallgrimsson.

“But let’s also give credit to Mexico, we haven’t played as good a team as Mexico and so for us, it was always tough to come back after conceding a goal in the first minute, it was always kind of a slap in the face and then I think it took us some time to grow into the game,” he argued.

With this year’s edition of the Gold Cup not having a third-place playoff, Hallgrimsson and his team are now left to pick up the pieces and focus their attention on their next assignment, which is the Concacaf Nations League in September, and on a longer-term, the 2026 World Cup qualification.

“It’s a hard defeat to take but we try to use the positives and see what we can work on in the future. We are just trying to focus on ourselves, and I think it’s the beginning of hopefully a successful journey for Jamaica until 2026. Like I said, we wanted to win this competition, but we are thinking long term,” Hallgrimsson ended.

Mexico and Jamaica played to a 2-2 draw in the final encounter in Group A of League A in the 2022–23 Concacaf Nations League at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.

The tie assures Mexico the top spot in the group and a place in the Concacaf Nations League  finals in June.

Jamaica goalkeeper Jahmali Waite started for the visitors and made a pivotal save early to deny Hector Moreno in the 6’, as the home side looked dangerous early on set pieces.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid placed the Reggae Boyz in the lead with a right-footed laser from outside the box in the 8’, marking his third international goal and first in a League A match.

The hosts responded shortly after as Orbelín Pineda pounced on a rebound inside the box in the 17’, tying the encounter at one apiece.

Jamaica regained the lead off a corner kick in the 33’ when the service from De Cordova-Reid bounced off the left thigh of Edson Álvarez for an own goal.

The match was temporarily suspended due to lightning in the 34’ and restarted as soon as conditions were deemed safe to resume.

After the restart, Hirving Lozano was denied by the top post in the 43’ as Mexico was inching closer to the tying goal.

Henry Martin was brought down inside the box by defender Ravel Morrison as Mexico earned a penalty in the first minute into injury time. Hirving Lozano converted in the 45'+2 to tie 2-2.

Luis Chavez attempted to test Waite from long range in the 54’ but the shot went just wide.

Guillermo Ochoa came up with a quick-witted save in the 57’ on a Jamaica corner headed by Shamar Nicholson.

Second half substitute Diego Laínez saw his own attempt denied by the woodwork in the 75’ as the home side continued to search for the victory.

Lozano nearly had his second of the night, and the potential game-winner, in second half injury time but the attempt was just inches from the far post.

Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey and Spartak Moscow striker Shamar Nicholson headline a 23-man squad named by the Jamaica Football Federation on Monday for the CONCACAF Nations League fixture between the Reggae Boyz and Mexico at the Azteca on March 26.

Bailey and Nicholson are two of a number of players who were not apart of the squad for the two friendlies against the Soca Warriors in Jamaica last week.

Defenders Damion Lowe, Amari’i Bell and Kemar Lawrence are also among those who have returned to the squad while regular skipper Andre Blake remains absent through injury.

The match will commence at 7:00pm JA time (8:00pm ET).

The full squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Jahmali Waite (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Reading), Amal Knight (Lexington), Defenders: Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Dexter Lembikisa (Wolves), Adrian Mariappa (Unattached), Damion Lowe (Philadelphia Union), Richard King (Cavalier), Javain Brown (Vancouver Whitecaps), Kemar Lawrence (Minnesota United), Midfielders: Jonathan Russell (Barnsley), Bobby Reid (Fulham), Demario Phillips (Mt. Pleasant), Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising), Daniel Johnson (Preston North End), Ravel Morrison (DC United), Kaheem Parris (Dynamo Kyiv), Forwards: Jamal Lowe (Bournemouth), Cory Burke (NY Red Bulls), Trivante Stewart (Mt. Pleasant), Shamar Nicholson (Spartak Moscow), Leon Bailey (Aston Villa)

Jamaica International striker Bobby Decordova-Reid’s Fulham FC will be playing Premier League football in the 2022-23 season after securing promotion to the top flight with a 3-0 victory over Preston North End in the EFL Championship at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.

Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic got goals in the 9^th and 41^st minutes to continue a prolific EFL Championship season that has so far seen him score 40 goals in 40 games.

Portuguese midfielder Fabio Carvalho got a goal in the 31^st minute before he was replaced by Reid 15 minutes before full-time.

With 86 points from 42 matches, Fulham secured their return to the highest level of English football with four games to spare.

The London-based club will be eager to improve their performance from their last Premier League season where they finished 18^th in 2020-21.  

Reid has seven goals and seven assists so far this season for the Cottagers and two goals in 16 appearances for the Reggae Boyz since making his debut in 2019.

Jamaica has named a stronger 23-man squad for today’s World Cup qualifier against Panama at the National Stadium in Kingston. The match time is 5:00 pm (6:00 pm ECT).

The squad includes West Ham striker Michail Antonio, Ravel Morrison and Bobby Reid, who did not play in the Reggae Boyz match against Mexico on Thursday night. Jamaica lost the match 2-1 on a 90th-minute goal from Henry Martin. Alexis Vega had put Mexico ahead in the 50th minute before Shamar Nicholson's 65th-minute strike pulled Jamaica level.

Jamaica was the only team to have lost in the opening round of the CONCACAF qualifiers and are at the bottom of the table. It makes today’s match against Panama, a crucial one.

The full squad comprises Andre Blake, Wesley Harding, Ethan Pinnock, Ravel Morrison, Alvas Powell, Liam Moore, Kemar Roofe, Oniel Fisher, Cory Burke, Bobby Reid, Shamar Nicholson, Junior Flemmings, Dillon Barnes, Javain Brown, Blair Turgott, Daniel Johnson, Michail Antonio, Lamar Walker, Adrian, Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence, Tyreek Magee, Devon Williams and Dennis Taylor.

Meanwhile, the JFF said it is pleased at the onset of the local component of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with the first home game against Panama at the 'Office' today.

The governing body said the players will miss profoundly the fans and the positive vibes that they are accustomed to at World Cup Qualifiers in the stadium but expressed confidence that the team will perform up to expectations.

"The technical staff of the JFF has assembled a very experienced professional group of players who are committed to an entertaining display of football," the JFF said in a statement.

"The group is comprised of players who have over recent years ensured that Jamaica has maintained a top-50 position in international football, maintain its leading role in the Caribbean and a continuous respectful position in Concacaf. It now includes some players who will make their debut for the country as they also want to help Jamaica achieve the ultimate goal of qualification to another senior men's World Cup.

"The JFF has also worked assiduously with all relevant state authorities and governing football bodies to get the full approval for the hosting of the game and wishes to thank all for making this happen. We urge Jamaicans to increase their observance of the established protocols to fight the Covid -19 pandemic so that we can not only host our next game on October 10 but all remaining six home games."