Jamaica have become a tougher nut to crack under head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, but their ability to hurt opponents is a question mark ahead of the tournament — and they’re also likely to be missing their star player…
How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…
The manager
Heimir Hallgrimsson is not a household name outside of Iceland. He had an unspectacular playing career and, by the time he was 17, had transitioned to part-time coaching. In his home country, however, he is a hero.
Behind Lars Lagerback, Hallgrimsson was the assistant coach during Iceland’s qualifying campaign for Euro 2016, during which they reached their first major tournament. He resumed his role for the finals, where Iceland shocked the world by reaching the quarter-finals, knocking England out in the round of 16.
After Lagerback left, Hallgrimsson was promoted to the top job. He led Iceland to the top of their World Cup qualifying group (ahead of Croatia) and into their first World Cup finals. They were knocked out in the group stage, after which Hallgrimsson stepped down from his role, but his accomplishments have secured his status as a legend of Icelandic football.
And he’s not just handy in the dugout. Unlike most international managers, Hallgrimsson was equally devoted to a career away from football during his playing career. As football is an amateur sport in Iceland, he studied dentistry at university and practised throughout his spells as a player with IBV, Hottur, Smastund and KFS in his home country.
Though he had stepped away from dentistry by the time of Euro 2016, he made national news when he attended a local women’s game shortly after the tournament and was prompted into his old career when a player had a tooth knocked out. While the player was laying on the pitch unconscious, he put the tooth back into place before making the necessary follow-up repair at a nearby dental office.
Since then, Hallgrimsson’s work repairing Jamaica’s national team following a turbulent spell under Theodore Whitmore has earned him plaudits throughout the country.
His defence-first philosophy may not always thrill, but it has stabilised the previously shaky foundation at the heart of Jamaica, making them hard to beat and disciplined. Under the 56-year-old, Jamaica are as well-equipped to compete as they have been this century.
The household name you haven’t heard of yet
Few people in Jamaican football are more renowned than Craig Butler.
Butler isn’t an emerging young goalscorer at the point of Jamaica’s attack, nor is he the team’s heartbeat in midfield. He is the agent of Chelsea youngster Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, among several other Jamaican-born professionals, and the adoptive father and representative of Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey.
Butler has been involved in various disputes with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for over a decade, stemming from a coaching suspension in 2007. Now the representative of Jamaica’s best player and most exciting young talent, the politics of Butler’s relationship with the JFF threatens to cloud a golden generation of Jamaican talent.
While there’s no suggestion that Butler’s fraught relationship with the federation has influenced Bailey, the 26-year-old ruled himself out of contention for Jamaica during the March internationals. In a video interview posted on YouTube, he accused the JFF of failing to provide adequate equipment and travel arrangements, allegations the federation denies.
Now, despite being called up to Hallgrimsson’s squad for Copa America, Bailey appears to have rejected the invitation. Butler said on social media that his son’s position “has not changed” regarding his participation with Jamaica.
“We kindly ask that you respect his wishes at this time,” Butler said. “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.”
Richards, meanwhile, who is emerging as a star talent in Chelsea’s Under-21s, has also been left out of Jamaica’s squad despite already winning 10 senior caps.
Strengths
Jamaica’s best players are in attacking positions. Bailey has been the star of the national team in recent years, but his performance at the club level has not always translated onto the international stage.
Fulham forward Bobby De Cordova-Reid is likely to operate on the right wing, while Al Ettifaq attacker Demarai Gray, formerly of Leicester City and Everton, will play on the other flank.
Jamaica have an array of decent options at the point of attack, with West Ham striker Michail Antonio being the most accomplished. If they are to progress deep into the tournament, it will be because their improved defence remains solid and their forward players are firing.
Weaknesses
At this stage, Jamaica’s biggest problem is the off-field uncertainty. If they are to have a strong tournament, silencing the noise outside of the camp will be pivotal.
Their strong performance in March’s Nations League fixtures against the United States and Panama proves Hallgrimsson’s strong defensive structure can produce effective performances without Bailey, but there is a danger that the pre-tournament fiasco surrounding his involvement will affect preparations for their opening game against Mexico on June 23.
Thing you didn’t know
Jamaica’s nickname is the ‘Reggae Boyz’ after the popular music genre birthed on the island. Popularised internationally by singer Bob Marley, reggae is considered a way of life.
Reggae is linked to Rastafarianism, an Afrocentric religion developed in Jamaica in the 1930s to promote pan-Africanism.
In 2018, reggae was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It recognised reggae’s “contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual.”
Expectations back home
Jamaica are not favourites to progress through Group B, where they will face Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador. Still, supporters are hopeful owing to their improved recent form.
Fans took encouragement from Jamaica’s strong performance in the CONCACAF Nations League final against the favoured U.S. in March. Jamaica took the lead in the first minute and held firm until the sixth minute of second-half added time before conceding twice in extra time to lose 3-1. Beating Panama 1-0 in the bronze medal game demonstrated their improved mental and structural resilience under Hallgrimsson.
Jamaica’s Copa America squad
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).
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: John Bradford)