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West Ham said on Tuesday that Antonio had withdrawn from the Jamaica squad, declining to provide a reason.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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