‘BIG DANGER’
McClaren wary of ‘tough’ St Vincent despite big disparity in FIFA rankings
Published:Sunday | March 23, 2025 | 9:59 PMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
REGGAE BOYZ boss Steve McClaren said, though FIFA has ranked his side 111 places higher than today’s opponents, St Vincent and the Grenadines, he is wary of the danger they could pose if taken lightly.
Jamaica will face off against St Vincent today at the Arnos Vale Stadium at 6 p.m. for the first leg of their Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminaries tie.
The Boyz will enter the fixture as heavy favourites because of the disparity in the world rankings as Jamaica sits 62nd on the list, far ahead of St Vincent, 173rd.
Speaking ahead of the game, McClaren said he has impressed upon his players the importance of taking the game seriously and not underestimating their opponents.
“We’ve stressed to the team that this is not going to be easy,” McClaren stated.
“What I’ve realised in my six months in the Caribbean is that there are no easy games. They are all different, and tomorrow will be the same. So it is to adapt, accept, and win.”
McClaren’s comments came after watching St Vincent’s last five outings, which included a dramatic 2-1 win over El Salvador in a Concacaf Nations League B fixture.
Added to their close 3-2 defeat to El Salvador in the Nations League, McClaren said St Vincent are shaping up to be tricky opponents.
He believes their current ranking does not fully showcase their quality on the field.
“We watched, especially the two games against El Salvador, a very good team, and unlucky to lose one game and won the other game in the last minute,” he said.
“The big danger is coming here and thinking it will be an easy game and it won’t. From what I’ve seen, they certainly look better than 173 ranking. So we’ll certainly find out tomorrow.”
Despite the caution, McClaren is expecting to leave the first leg with the advantage and is confident his players will book their spots in the Gold Cup proper.
He draws confidence from his squad selection, stating he has brought a strong contingent capable of defeating the Vincentian unit.
“It is a strong squad, a strong team, and I expect us to prepare properly and do the business.”
His thoughts were echoed by defensive stalwart Ethan Pinnock, who is making his return to the national set-up for the first time since Jamaica’s Nations League quarter-finals fixture against the United States last year.
Pinnock said the mood in the camp is positive, with the players ready to give their best over both legs of the fixture.
“The mood is positive. It is always a good time when you’re in camp but, when it’s training time, everyone knows we need to buckle down,” he said. “Despite what you say about the rankings, we’re not too focused on that, because we go into every game with the same mindset about what we need to do to win.”
The first leg is being played in St Vincent before the second leg in Jamaica at Sabina Park on March 25.
The winner on aggregate score across both legs will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, set to begin on June 14.