Jamaica finds themselves as unlikely semifinalists as they prepare to play the United States in Atlanta. Head coach Windfried Shafer is not surprised how well his team has played, however, admits that they will be the underdog when they play fellow German national, Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. squad. The Reggae Boyz will be playing in the semifinals for the first time since the 1998 Gold Cup.
Schafer and Klinsmann’s paths have crossed a few times in the past when Schafer was coaching Karlsruher SC in the Bundesliga and Klinsmann was playing for Bayern Munich from 1995-1997. Schaefer’s teams went 1-3 in league play against Bayern Munich during those two seasons. He remembers having good players at Karlsruher during his tenure but Bayern Munich bought all their good players over the years which led to their eventual relegation in 1998. Players that included eventual Germany national team goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, center back Oliver Kreuzer and midfielder Mehmet Scholl, who is tied for most Bundesliga titles in Bayern history (8) with Oliver Kahn and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Jamaica is undefeated in Gold Cup play thus far after tying Group B favorites Costa Rica 2-2, and defeating Canada and El Salvador 1-0 in consequent games. Throughout the group stage, Jamaica’s mix of veterans and youngsters, have molded together to play a well organized and counter attacking game. The team have made their possessions count since they lost the possession battle in all three group stage games, while yet still having 48 shots on goal, good for third in the Gold Cup. Against Haiti in the quarter final, they finally won the ball possession battle, despite giving up 28 shots, while limiting the Haitians to just four shots on goal, compared with Jamaica’s six.
Shafer credits the Reggae Boyz’ undefeated run through the Gold Cup to having good smart players who get along with each other. The heart of the team is 33 year old Jobi McAnuff who stepped in for the suspended Je-Vaughn Watson in a defensive midfield position, away from his traditional winger position. McAnuff played admirably and even had a key late challenge and steal as Haiti was pushing for the tying score. McAnuff was named player of the game for his stellar defensive play on the field. Shafer insists that Jamaica isn’t about one player though; they are a team and play as a team.
Despite Alvas Powell walking out on the team last week, this team seems to have very good chemistry. For instance center back Jermaine Taylor is out injured, however, the team enjoys having him around because he is the best cook and as Shafer puts it, “makes good chicken and fish.” Outside of the cooking, the team seems to have a lot of the key ingredients in place to give their semifinal opponent, the United States, a tough game.
Darren Mattocks will return to the line-up after missing the game against Haiti due to a card accumulation. Mattocks has been the team’s best goal scoring threat, despite not scoring in the Gold Cup. Mattocks led the team in scoring in the Caribbean Cup in November with three goals, in all he has 8 goals for the national team. Out of the current players on the roster, only defender Demar Phillips has more national team goals with 12. Giles Barnes is still relatively new to the Jamaican squad with only 8 caps so far, but no doubt the team is better with him on the field. He scored the lone goal against Haiti and the Houston Dynamo’s 2014 MVP seems to play well with Mattocks up top, providing a formidable striking duo.
Other key players for the team include the return of defensive midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson from card suspension, captain Rodolph Austin who scored the game winner in injury time against Canada in the group stage, and veteran center back Wes Brown, who finally became a regular on the national team after getting his first shot in the Premier League last year with Leicester City after 13 years in the lower divisions of English soccer with Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.
As the team descends upon the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and makes final preparations for the game against the U.S., one cannot help but notice that these Reggae Boyz have built up their confidence as each game progresses. It would be a shock to the region and the world if they pull off the upset and defeat the United States; however, this is a team that seems to have a winning recipe on their plate.
