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‘It will be an intriguing game’ - McClaren expects tight battle in World Cup clash
November 13, 2025
Jamaica's head coach Steve McClaren said the Reggae Boyz will have to be extremely solid in defence to avoid a negative result against Trinidad and Tobago in the penultimate Group B game in final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The match is set to start at 7 p.m. Jamaica time.
Jamaica sit atop the group with nine points, one point clear of Curacao, who play bottom-of-the-table Bermuda (No point). Trinidad and Tobago are third on five points.
"Trinidad is very strong and powerful with the ball. (They've) got very good individual players that can change a game, that can make something from nothing. So we need to defend well. If we don't defend well. We risk the chance of losing. So we need to defend very well," he said.
Nevertheless, McClaren pointed out that the Reggae Boyz have great individual talent themselves, and that if they get the defensive aspect of their game right, those players can make the difference.
"We also have good individual players that can win a game and turn a game. But it will be cat-and-mouse, an intriguing game.
"We've come a long way, 18 months we've been together now and we've reached this stage knowing that World Cup qualification is really in our hands. But we know an improving Trinidad team can stop us," he said.
The Englishman said he and the UK-born players were astonished at the devastation cause by Hurricane Melissa, and the motivation the team has going into the final two matches is to secure qualification and put a smile on the face of Jamaica's people.
"Damion Lowe summed it up in the best possible way in that, 'the only way we can help the Jamaican people who are suffering at the moment is to put a smile on their faces, and to put a smile on their faces would be World Cup qualification'.
"So that's the motivation that we have. We are thinking of the people who are suffering. We are thinking of the families who have lost family members.
"We have to take that motivation and use it. Everything in life is about giving back and to give back will be to win the two games and qualify for the World Cup," he commented.
HOME ADVANTAGE
Having earned four points in their last two matches, Trinidad and Tobago's head coach Dwight Yorke said they are looking to build on that momentum.
"We've come off an unbeaten run with two away games. I am sure there is a bit of disappointment in terms of not getting maximum points, but to go away and play two matches and get four points is a good return. We are going to try and build on that and we know the significance of the Jamaican game," he said.
"We have the home advantage. We have a fantastic record here under my reign, and we are looking to add to that.
"We know Jamaica is not going to be a pushover by any means. We need to be at our best to show we have it in us to close the gap on Jamaica. Despite the result the last game, we feel that as a unit we can get the victory here."
