Restoring balance

Scores of former Reggae Boyz must be cursing their luck of never having it this easy to qualify for the World Cup - with six teams from Concacaf certain to qualify at FIFA's quadrennial showcase for the game's best talent; and certain Jamaica qualification guaranteed by winning a four-team all-Caribbean playoff.

Add to that, an opportunity for the two best second-place Concacaf nations in the playoffs to also book a ticket to the show, in FIFA's intercontinental playoffs next March.

Jamaica's only FIFA World Cup appearance was realised by its incomparable 1998 unit.

Several campaigned in other World Cup windows in what was known as the 'Hexagonal', a playoff among the confederation's top six countries that spawned three clear spots to FIFA's big tournament. Top six teams then would pretty much have a spot at FIFA's biggest dance, involving 48 teams, if it were today.

Now many of the Reggae Boyz who never had this opportunity are still cursing, fuming at the position in which Jamaica's senior men's footballers find themselves after losing 2-0 against Curacao on Friday.

Any other result would have Jamaica sitting atop the group. They are second on six points, one less than Curacao, and three ahead of Trinidad and Tobago. At the midway stage, all the teams have beaten Bermuda.

Purely on play, signs of the Reggae Boyz's vulnerabilities have been clear, given luck and clear goal chances conceded in matches prior, even against the lowly Bermuda in a 4-0 thumping.

Against Trinidad and Tobago, a swing of close offside calls could have snapped this wake-up call, with marginal VAR decisions overturning a goal for the Trinbagonians and verifying one goal for the Reggae Boyz in a 2-0 scoreline.

As a team, McClaren's Boyz have generally not made great effort, or have found it difficult to string passes together and coordinate to reflect Jamaican traits, speed mainly, and character.

The passing is slow, there are no obvious tactical moves to get more effective players like the speedy Renaldo Cephas on the ball frequently and in open spaces, and options across the different sects of defence, midfield and forward are very limited when regulars are absent.

Such deficiencies were cruelly exposed against Curacao on Friday, who executed a masterclass at winning a match with complete dominance and a goal in the first quarter of the match, then doing enough to control the game the rest of the way, always with attacking and scoring intent.

McClaren admitted his team being stifled in the first 20 minutes. With midfielders unable to dribble an opponent, they were not much better afterwards, especially for the remainder of the first half.

It is the coach who picks the players, and makes the substitutions. He picks the team. Jamaica's first substitution came at the 61st minute.

Curacao, who held sway, made a half-time substitution, Kenji Gorre, who proceeded to run riot on the left flank, before scoring his team's second goal. They made a second attacking substitution at the 58th minute.

Their team's possession went down from 55 per cent at halftime to 42 per cent at game time. Matters little, the visitors already had a goal, then goals in the bag. It didn't matter what the Reggae Boyz were doing, as long as they didn't score Curacao were under no pressure to produce a significant response.

McClaren has not shown a core for this team, amid his constant searching, chopping and changing. That search has gone everywhere but these shores. And the team's play has been just as erratic.

Football is played in Jamaica. There are countless leagues played in this country, with players who could serve better combinations and options. Jamaica's France '98 Boyz are proof.

Today's return qualifier at the National Stadium against Bermuda presents a grand chance at redemption for the Boyz. A matching result will help in eradicating difficulties with which they've been hampered.

audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com