Whitmore to ring the changes

July 20, 2021
Jamaica’s Shamar Nicholson (left) moves  away from Guadeloupe’s midfielder Edwing Malpon  during the first half of  their Concacaf  Gold Cup Group C match last Friday. Jamaica won 2-1.
Jamaica’s Shamar Nicholson (left) moves away from Guadeloupe’s midfielder Edwing Malpon during the first half of their Concacaf Gold Cup Group C match last Friday. Jamaica won 2-1.
 Whitmore
Whitmore
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With qualification for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals secure, national senior men's head coach Theodore Whitmore says their final group game today against Costa Rica will see some fresh faces getting their opportunity to impress.

The Reggae Boyz will face Los Ticos at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, at 6 p.m. Jamaica time looking to secure top spot in Group C. Both teams are already through to the last eight and the match will determine whether the United States or Canada will be their quarter-final opponents.

Despite back-to-back wins in group play, Whitmore has not been pleased with the performances of his team. However, in his pre-game press conference, he said that the changes to the team today were not because of tactical reasons but being able to keep the team healthy for the long haul.

"We have 22 players and we have to keep everyone sharp we have to keep everybody on their feet. We have to take a number of situations into consideration. In looking at those situations, that's the approach that we will take tomorrow (today)." Whitmore said.

Both teams are on six points and a plus three-goal differential but Costa Rica currently lead the group having scored the most goals (five) in the group compared to Jamaica with four. Jamaica have only beaten Costa Rica four times in their last 28 matches. National forward Junior Flemmings stressed how important their concentration will have to be from the opening whistle to mitigate the problems they pose.

"The mentality has to be spot on from minute one and we just have to keep focused. We have a job to go out there and do and we just have to carry out the (game plan)," Flemmings said. Flemmings came on as a second-half substitute in their second group game against Guadeloupe last Friday and scored the winner three minutes from the end to secure the 2-1 victory as well as passage to the next round.

While acknowledging the difficulty that Costa Rica pose, Whitmore said that it will be how his team responds and adapts that will make the difference.

"Costa Rica are no walkover. We know what they have to offer but again it's how well we manage the game and what we want to achieve out of that game [that is important]," Whitmore said.

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