Canada clash crucial, says Hallgrimsson
Published:Monday | October 23, 2023 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said beating Canada and qualifying for next year’s Copa America and Nations League semi-finals will be critical to their continued development as a team and to their chances of qualifying for a second FIFA World Cup.
The Reggae Boyz topped Group B of League A in the Concacaf Nations League to book a quarter-final date with Canada, and victory over the Canadians would secure a place in the semi-finals as well as the Copa America tournament.
Hallgrimsson, who has been in charge for just over a year, said having the players for a tournament like the Copa America will provide them with the opportunity to work with them over an extended period and make the improvements the coaching staff desire, going into World Cup qualification.
“We need to do our task to get it and win it (Nations League quarter-final) and complete the possibility of joining the Copa America next summer. It is a huge advantage for a team working for the World Cup in 2026.
“Playing tournaments like this not only gives the players and the staff the experience to take part in big competitions like Copa America and the World Cup. It also gives us a chance to work with the players for a whole month, or even more, next summer,” he reasoned.
He pointed out that advancing to the Nations League semi-finals would also give them another period to work with the players, even before the Copa America begins.
“The window prior to the Copa America is the Nations League window. So we will get 10 extra days prior to the Copa America.
“It is a lot of time, and probably the only time the coaches get to really work with the players. It is the only chance to work with players for such a long time, and you can do a little bit every day to improve the squad working forward,” he said.
Jamaica will face Canada over two legs on November 17 and 21, and Hallgrimsson has called on supporters to come out and get behind the team.
“We know that we will play our first game at home. The first game will be in Kingston, so I am hoping that Jamaicans will come out and support the team. These games will be the most important the Boyz have played for a long time.
“It will qualify us for the Nations League, and it will also qualify them for the Copa America. So they are huge games and two really big rewards if we do well in these games.
“The team has improved on the field as well as off the field, and I hope the fans will see that and support them and push them over the line to win these play-off matches,” Hallgrimsson said.