Hallgrimsson puzzled by new Nations League format

Reggae Boyz coach Heimir Hallgrimsson says he is still trying to fully grasp the new Concacaf Nations League format, which uses a Swiss system similar to the one which is set to be introduced in the UEFA Champions League for the 2024-25 season.

The format change means that Concacaf League A will now feature 12 teams divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group to progress to the quarterfinals, where seeded teams USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada await.

Previously teams were grouped into four zones of threes, with the winners of each group advancing to the semifinals.

For this competition Jamaica are in Group B with Haiti, Honduras, Cuba, Suriname and Grenada. However, they will only play games against Honduras, Grenada and Haiti, twice, and Hallgrimsson admitted the new system is a bit puzzling.

“It is something that we are trying to understand but we don’t. It is really a strange format. In a group of six to only play three teams and twice the top seeded team, is really a strange format. So I am trying but I just don’t understand it,” he said.

EXPECTATION NOT DAMPENED

Nevertheless, he insists that this hasn’t dampened his expectation of progressing from the group stage and qualifying for the 2024 Copa América tournament.

“We want to be top two because there is so much at stake. So we have to do everything,” he said.

Jamaica play Honduras next Friday and then Haiti the following Tuesday and the Icelandic coach said it’s a great opportunity to build on their progress at the Gold Cup after he announced his 23-man squad for the first two games at a press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) yesterday.

“When we went to the Gold Cup a lot of players had not come into the training camp prior. I was having the squad for the first time for a good long period and we liked what we saw and how the players reacted to what we were trying to do. We also learned a little bit about each other and that is what a tournament like that does.

“So to keep on building on this means we do not have to start from scratch, and from the squad (named) you can see we basically picked the same players because we liked what we saw,” he said.

“We can grow and tactically and we can add some things. But it has been a short time span since the Gold Cup, so I think we can build on it.”

Fans can purchase tickets for the upcoming games at www.caribtix.com/jamaicafootballfederation.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com