Tag: Jamaica

Edson Alvarez injury: Mexico captain exits in tears in Copa America opener

El Tri’s captain could be set for a long spell on the sidelines

Mexico captain Edson Álvarez went down with a potentially serious injury during his side’s Copa América opener against Jamaica on Saturday.

With the match scoreless, Álvarez was sprinting back on defense midway through the first half when he fell to the turf without contact from any player.

The West Ham midfielder had to be helped off the field and couldn’t put any weight on his left leg as he exited. He was replaced by Luis Romo in the 30th minute.

Álvarez was in tears as he left the field, clearly emotional as his status for the rest of the Copa América appears to be in serious doubt.

Mexico went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a second-half strike from Gerardo Arteaga.

For a Mexico team in one of its worst stretches in some time, losing a player like Álvarez is a killer blow.

The 26-year-old is one of Mexico’s few players to feature regularly at Europe’s highest levels. Álvarez just completed his first Premier League season, and has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United.

“We’re going to wait a couple of days to do some testing on him and to know well what he’s got going on,” head coach Jaime Lozano said after the match.

“He’s extremely important. He’s a leader, he understands the game well. He’s important on the pitch and in the locker room as well. You listen to him talk, he has a way with words and when he speaks you listen. This was a tough blow for all of us.”

Following Saturday’s game, El Tri will face Venezuela on Wednesday and Ecuador on June 30 to close out group play.

Playing surface concerns grow

Álvarez’s non-contact injury will highlight a growing concern at this tournament: quickly installed real grass laid over artificial turf at several stadiums — including NRG Stadium in Houston, where the injury occurred.

Argentina and Canada players complained about a similar surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the tournament opener, with Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez calling the pitch a “disaster.”

In an interview with The Athletic, U.S. national team midfielder Weston McKennie aired out his own complaints.

“You’re playing on a football field, with laid grass that’s all patchy and it breaks up every step you take. It’s frustrating,” he said.

“If you look at the Euros, they’re all playing on great fields, great grass, football-specific stadiums, soccer-specific stadiums, and you see the quality of the football.

“You can play a 1-2 without wondering if the ball is gonna bounce up before you hit it. You can pass the ball back to the keeper not being afraid that it’s going to bounce over his foot. You see a different type of soccer.”

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Mexico vs. Jamaica: Where to watch 2024 Copa America, TV channel, live stream

Mexico will be under pressure to start Copa América on the right foot

Mexico will be under some pressure to get its journey at the 2024 Copa América moving in the right direction as it kicks off the tournament against Jamaica on Saturday.

The Group B clash at Houston’s NRG Stadium will see two Concacaf sides square off in CONMEBOL’s premier tournament, with both El Tri and the Reggae Boyz holding hopes of a place in the knockout rounds.

Still, Mexico will enter the match needing to calm a troubled fan base. Jaime Lozano’s side has failed to convince in 2024, losing to the U.S. men’s national team, Colombia, Brazil, and Uruguay.

A confident victory against Jamaica is likely the bare minimum required to lower the scrutiny applied to the team by the expectant Mexican media. More importantly, it may be a requirement to head off a possible quarterfinal against Group A favorites Argentina.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Mexico vs. Jamaica FREE on Fubo” link=”https://www.fubo.tv/welcome?irad=343747&irmp=1205322&subId1=PSW&subId2=Generic&subId3=2023%2F24″]

Jamaica’s preparations for the Copa América have been disrupted by an ongoing dispute between star Leon Bailey, coach Heimir Hallgrímsson, and the nation’s federation.

Bailey was named to Jamaica’s 26-man roster even after he had said he wouldn’t be accepting call-ups for the time being. Hours after the Jamaica Football Federation posted a squad list including his name, the Aston Villa man emphasized through his agent that he would not be joining the team for the tournament.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Mexico vs. Jamaica (Copa América)

  • When: Saturday, June 22
  • Where: NRG Stadium (Houston)
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: FS1 (Watch FREE on Fubo), TUDN, Univision, ViX (Watch on Prime Video)

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Agent: Disgruntled Jamaica star Bailey won’t play despite Copa America call-up

The Aston Villa star slammed the Jamaican federation in an explosive rant back in March

Just three months after announcing he was taking a break from the Jamaica national team in an explosive rant, Leon Bailey was included on the team’s 26-man roster for the Copa América.

But that doesn’t actually appear to mean the Aston Villa star will play for the Reggae Boyz at the upcoming tournament.

Just hours after Jamaica head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson included Bailey on his squad, the winger posted a two-word message on his Instagram account.

“Misleading information.”

That was quickly followed up with another Instagram post, this time from Bailey’s agent Craig Butler.

“Leon Bailey has stated that he is taking a break from the Jamaica national team for his mental health and to spend time with his family. His position has not changed,” Butler wrote.

“We kindly ask that you respect his wishes at this time. Posts made on social media that are surfacing at this time is a misrepresentation of his position. We wish the Reggae Boyz well in the Copa America competition and he, along with his management team, will continue to support the Jamaica National Team at all levels … change must come…Respect and One Love for all.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8JAec9O9Uw/?hl=en

Hallgrímsson suspended Bailey for Nations League matches in March after the winger missed curfew during a November camp.

Bailey took exception to the suspension — and basically everything else related to the Jamaican team and federation — as he announced he wouldn’t be returning to the national team in a brutally honest interview on the Let’s Be Honest podcast.

“A lot of people don’t know that most of the time, I book my own flights to come and represent Jamaica because they are very unprofessional,” explained Bailey. “You’re getting your flight details [at] 11 p.m. to travel the next day. [The Jamaican federation] doesn’t pay us. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team. It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Bailey went on to say that representing Jamaica was something of a gift he felt he was giving to his country.

“Jamaica’s national team is not doing anything for me,” he charged. “Jamaica’s national team is not going to give me exposure. Playing for Jamaica is not going to make Real Madrid call me. I am shining light on the national team by playing overseas and representing as a Jamaican all the time.”

With that as the backdrop, it was something of a surprise when Hallgrímsson released his squad for the Copa América on Wednesday night and Bailey’s name was on the list.

Missing Bailey will be a major blow for the Reggae Boyz. The 26-year-old just finished an excellent campaign with Villa, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper and captain Andre Blake was named to the squad despite a knee injury that appears likely to rule him out for at least some of the tournament.

Jamaica has been drawn into Group B at the Copa América, where it will face Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Jamaica Copa America roster

Goalkeepers: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Jahmali Waite (El Paso Locomotive FC), Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Reading), Shaquan Davis (Mount Pleasant)

Defenders: Damion Lowe (Philadelphia Union), Michael Hector (Charlton Athletic), Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Richard King (Cavalier), Dexter Lembikisa (Hearts), Greg Leigh (Oxford United), Di’Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Wesley Harding (Millwall), Jon Bell (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders: Bobby Decordova-Reid (Fulham), Kevon Lambert (Real Salt Lake), Alex Marshall (Portmore United), Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City), Kasey Palmer (Coventry City), Karoy Anderson (Charlton Athletic).

Forwards: Shamar Nicholson (Clermont), Leon Bailey (Aston Villa), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Demarai Gray (Al Ettifaq), Renaldo Cephas (Ankaragucu), Kaheim Dixon (Arnett Gardens).

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Andre Blake a doubt for Jamaica at Copa America after knee surgery

A key player for the Reggae Boyz may end up watching Copa América from afar

Jamaica will likely have to play this summer’s Copa América without captain Andre Blake.

The Philadelphia Union announced Wednesday that the goalkeeper will miss the next four-to-six weeks after surgery to repair a small meniscus tear.

“It was a minor surgery where there were a couple of little loose flaps in there and they cleaned up his meniscus, which had a little minor, minor tear,” said Union head coach Jim Curtin.

Blake’s recovery timeline will make it very difficult for the goalkeeper to join up with the Reggae Boyz at the 2024 Copa América, which starts in just over three weeks.

A four-week recovery for the 33-year-old would prevent him from playing any part in Jamaica’s group-stage opener against Mexico on June 22. If his return-to-play process carries into the long end of his recovery timeline, Blake wouldn’t be able to play unless Jamaica went to at least the semifinals (July 9-10).

However, in quotes published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Curtin said that he couldn’t make any declarations about Blake’s status for the tournament.

“It’ll be touch-and-go for him [at Copa América],” said Curtin. “He’s not formally out — it’ll be a week-by-week thing. I’m not here to rule Andre out of anything. Four-to-six [weeks] is just a guideline.”

Even if Blake were to return quickly, there will be questions about just how sharp he can be. The veteran has not appeared for the Union since April 30, and Blake has appeared in just eight of Philadelphia’s 19 games during the 2024 season.

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Jamaica federation president doesn’t inspire confidence over Leon Bailey’s return

The Aston Villa star is currently in a self-imposed exile from the national team

When will Leon Bailey decide to return to the Jamaica men’s national team?

That questions hangs over the Reggae Boyz as they prepare for a summer that will include World Cup qualifiers and the Copa América.

Jamaica would certainly like to see one of its best players end his self-imposed absence, but based on an answer from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, that may not be happening anytime soon.

“To be honest, no [we haven’t spoken],” Michael Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer. “But hopefully somehow we will make this connection and see how we can amicably settle whatever issues Leon may have.”

The issues that Bailey has were laid out in full in an explosive interview the Aston Villa star gave on the Let’s Be Honest podcast last month.

Bailey was dropped from Jamaica’s Nations Leaguie roster, as head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson suspended him over missing curfew during a November camp.

But the 26-year-old followed that suspension up by declaring that he would not be returning when he was available again.

Among the allegations Bailey made were that he had to book his own flights for international duty, players were not provided with even the basic apparel needed for training, and compensation has been nonexistent.

“[The JFF] doesn’t pay us. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team. It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine,” he said.

Bailey went on to insinuate that representing Jamaica was something he did more as a favor to his country than anything else.

“Jamaica’s national team is not doing anything for me,” Bailey charged. “Jamaica’s national team is not going to give me exposure. Playing for Jamaica is not going to make Real Madrid call me. I am shining light on the national team by playing overseas and representing as a Jamaican all the time. People know Leon Bailey everywhere in the world.”

Bailey’s agent and father, Craig Butler, added to the Jamaica Observer that he is willing to speak with the JFF, but would need certain assurances in order for Bailey to return.

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Did Berhalter take a shot at Marsch after USMNT-Jamaica game?

The USMNT coach couldn’t help but spike the football after Gio Reyna’s display

After watching Gio Reyna’s incredible display for the U.S. men’s national team on Thursday night, Gregg Berhalter couldn’t help himself.

The USMNT defeated Jamaica 3-1 in extra time, advancing to Sunday’s Nations League final against Mexico at AT&T Stadium.

In his post-game press conference the USMNT coach was asked about Reyna, who came off the bench at halftime and delivered two outstanding assists for Haji Wright to decide a dramatic semifinal.

Chief on Berhalter’s mind was criticism he’d received for calling Reyna up amid a loan at Nottingham Forest in which he’s hardly seen the field.

“I think I heard somewhere or read somewhere, ‘Why did Gio get called in the camp?'” Berhalter said. “Did you guys hear any of that? Anyone?

“Well, I think he showed why he got called into camp. Amazing quality, amazing talent. And for us, it’s about supporting him through the difficult times of adapting to the Premier League. But his quality is unquestionable.

“When you see the plays he made on both the second and third goal, I think most importantly, the ball he wins and then makes the pass [on the third goal]. He has that quality that not many players have and it’s clear that he deserves to play on this team.”

Though Berhalter didn’t name any of the critics, he may very well have been referring to one in particular: Jesse Marsch.

The former Leeds coach and one-time candidate for Berhalter’s job questioned Reyna’s inclusion last week on CBS’s “Call It What You Want” podcast.

Marsch even seemed to suggest that Berhalter was overly deferential to Reyna after the scandal that erupted between the pair and their families last year.

This was hardly the first time that Marsch had taken aim at Berhalter in recent months. The former Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig coach also questioned the inclusion of Tyler Adams on the current roster, called for exiled defender John Brooks to be given a major role on the USMNT, and said the USMNT lacks a signature win under Berhalter.

Given all of the above, it’s tough to really blame Berhalter if he felt like spiking the football a bit on Thursday night.

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Leon Bailey blasts Jamaican federation as he announces break from national team

Bailey was unsparing in his assessment of the “unprofessional” Jamaica Football Federation

Leon Bailey has declared that he will “take a break” from the Jamaican national team over issues stemming from what he called a low level of professionalism.

Ahead of the Reggae Boyz’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal against the U.S. men’s national team, the Aston Villa winger lit into the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) — long a target of criticism from players on its national teams — over basic missteps involving equipment, travel arrangements, and more.

Speaking on the Let’s Be Honest podcast, Bailey was unsparing in his criticism of the JFF.

“A lot of people don’t know that most of the time, I book my own flights to come and represent Jamaica because they are very unprofessional,” explained Bailey. “You’re getting your flight details [at] 11 p.m. to travel the next day. [The JFF] doesn’t pay us. I can’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team. It’s very unprofessional, in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Bailey then turned to how even being provided with team apparel to train in has been a problem.

“You’re turning up and they don’t have equipment for you. You’ll go and they’ll only have one shirt for you, and you have to find shorts,” said a bemused Bailey. “Players turn up to games and it’s a women’s shirt they print out for them to wear. It’s ridiculous and they don’t know how to operate.”

Bailey gave something of a conflicting accounting of whether he had let Jamaica know about the problems. At one point, he told host Jaii Frais he hadn’t, but later said he butts heads with the JFF in every international window.

“It’s two things I’ve always asked them for, and every time, I can’t get it. You have people booking flights for me and sending me from England to Jamaica with three different stops,” insisted Bailey. “All I ask for is a proper flight and a room by myself, and I can’t get that. If I don’t go the national team, I can go on my vacation and I can live good.”

Bailey: Jamaica’s national team ‘not doing anything for me’

Bailey wouldn’t have been available to take on the USMNT on Thursday, as head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson had suspended him over missing curfew during a November camp.

Bailey admitted that he did violate team rules, but said he took exception to how Hallgrímsson presented the news to the public.

“I did break curfew, but that’s normal. Every player does that,” said Bailey, who added that the suspension was not so much of a big deal in and of itself as it was just the last straw. “It’s just the way how it was presented that I didn’t like.

“[Hallgrímsson] did say to me that he wasn’t going to invite me to the next camp but, way before this happened, I always had it in my head that this is too much on my plate when it comes to the national team, and I was really going to take a break from it, and then [the suspension] just tipped off everything… I felt that was really harsh and it just said to me that me being in the national team right now, it really drains my energy a lot.”

Bailey won’t be alone in missing the match for Jamaica. Striker Michail Antonio withdrew from the roster for unspecified reasons, while Trivante Stewart is suspended by the team over a curfew violation last year. Ethan Pinnock and Amari’i Bell are unavailable due to injury, while Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson are suspended due to yellow-card accumulation.

Beyond that, the 26-year-old framed his appearances with Jamaica as a favor to the national team that he does out of pride in his country.

“Jamaica’s national team is not doing anything for me,” explained the Villa star. “Jamaica’s national team is not going to give me exposure. Playing for Jamaica is not going to make Real Madrid call me. I am shining light on the national team by playing overseas and representing as a Jamaican all the time. People know Leon Bailey everywhere in the world…

“I am Jamaican and I love my country, and hopefully one day my kids can come up and grow up in a better environment than I did. But sometimes I think about it and realize that these things were happening before I was born so, can I be the change?”

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USMNT vs. Jamaica: How to watch Concacaf Nations League, TV channel, live stream

The USMNT will face the Reggae Boyz with a berth in Sunday’s final at stake

The U.S. men’s national team will face Jamaica on Thursday night in a Concacaf Nations League semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Jamaica has reached this stage for the first time, while the USMNT is looking to make it three titles out of three in the Nations League.

The USMNT would have been favorites even if Jamaica was at full strength, but the Reggae Boyz enter this match missing several key players. Jamaica will be without Michail Antonio, the injured Ethan Pinnock and Amari’i Bell, the suspended Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson, as well as Leon Bailey and Trivante Stewart, who were dropped after missing curfew Jamaica’s last camp.

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The USMNT will be mostly full strength, but did have to make a pair of roster changes ahead of this match with Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright replacing the injured Luca de la Torre and Josh Sargent.

Overall, the USMNT has a 19W-3L-10D record against Jamaica, including a run of 5W-0L-1D in its last six encounters.

The winner of this match will face the winner of Mexico’s semifinal against Panama in Sunday’s final, while the two losers will meet Sunday in the third-place game.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

USMNT vs. Jamaica (Nations League semifinal)

  • When: Thursday, March 21
  • Where: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Univision, TUDN, Paramount+ (WATCH LIVE)

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NFL star and former MLS defender Aubrey pays visit to USMNT camp

Brandon Aubrey, a former MLS draft pick who led the NFL in scoring last season, stopped by USMNT camp this week

The U.S. men’s national team had a special guest at Tuesday’s practice, a familiar face for fans in Dallas.

The USMNT invited Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey to a training session ahead of Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal showdown with Jamaica at AT&T Stadium.

Aubrey, 29, emerged as one of the best kickers in the NFL last season, but his professional sports career actually started in soccer.

Aubrey was a defender at Notre Dame from 2013-2016, scoring 15 goals and earning first-team All-ACC recognition with the Fighting Irish. He was drafted by Toronto FC in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.

The defender spent his first season on loan to Toronto’s second team (a USL squad at the time), then he spent one year with Bethlehem Steel FC (another USL team that formerly served as a Philadelphia Union affiliate). After 47 appearances in the USL, Aubrey was out of soccer by 2019.

Aubrey started working as a software engineer. While watching an NFL game in 2019, Aubrey and his wife looked on as a kicker missed an attempt.

“You could do that,” she told him.

So he did.

Aubrey hired a kicking coach and he worked in his garage during the pandemic. After three years of training, he finally got an opportunity with the Birmingham Stallions (then of the USFL, a league that has since merged with the XFL to form the UFL).

In his first season as a professional kicker, Aubrey made the All-USFL first-team and he won back-to-back championships with the Stallions. After going 32-of-37 on field goal attempts in the spring league, Aubrey was invited to Cowboys training camp last summer.

Aubrey ended up winning Dallas’ starting kicker job and he went on to go 36-of-38 on field goal attempts in 2023, leading the NFL with 157 points. He quickly established himself as one of the best kickers in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in his first season.

Aubrey is following in the footsteps of Josh Lambo, who switched from soccer to American football and went on to have a seven-year career as a kicker in the NFL. If his first season is any indication of what’s to come, Aubrey is well on his way to surpassing Lambo’s feats.

The winner of the USA-Jamacia match on Thursday will advance to face the winner of the Mexico-Panama clash in the Concacaf Nations League final at the Cowboys’ stadium on Sunday night.

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Already shorthanded, Jamaica sees Antonio withdraw ahead of USMNT clash

If Jamaica is to spring an upset over the USMNT, it will have to do so the hard way

If Jamaica is to spring an upset over the U.S. men’s national team on Thursday night, it will have to do so the hard way.

Already missing a host of key players for the Concacaf Nations League semifinal, the Reggae Boyz will now also be without star forward Michail Antonio.

West Ham said on Tuesday that Antonio had withdrawn from the Jamaica squad, declining to provide a reason. The 33-year-old was originally named to Jamaica’s roster for the Nations League finals, and scored on Sunday in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Antonio joins a growing list of players who won’t be available on Thursday when Jamaica faces the USMNT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Leon Bailey and Trivante Stewart were both not selected for the roster after missing curfew at Jamaica’s most recent camp. Center backs Ethan Pinnock and Amari’i Bell also weren’t called up due to injury, while Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson are on the roster but will be suspended against the U.S. due to card accumulation.

The USMNT is aiming for its third consecutive Nations League title, while Jamaica is making its first semifinal appearance in the competition.

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