One year after their Gold Cup semi-final contest, Mexico and Jamaica meet again, this time opening their Copa América campaigns with a Group B match in Houston’s NRG Stadium.
By Jon Arnold
Mexico took that match 3-0 with Henry Martín scoring an early goal, Luis Chávez adding a second at the half hour mark and Roberto Alvarado finishing things off with a tally in stoppage time. But only two of the players are part of Mexico’s Copa América roster, with América forward Martín left off of Jaime Lozano’s roster as the Mexico manager looks to bring younger players into the fold.
Martín is hardly the only casualty of the push for fresh blood. Mexico’s goalkeeping situation heading into Saturday’s match is uncertain because veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was left out – as was winger Hirving Lozano. But Ochoa’s replacement Luis Malagon suffered an injury, meaning Lozano now will pick between late addition Carlos Acevedo or two goalkeepers who went into the summer without any international minutes.
Jamaica, too, will be without its stalwart shot-stopper, though not because they don’t wish Andre Blake were there. Blake suffered a knee injury and underwent meniscus surgery in late May. While he’s named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s 26-man squad, he’s unlikely to be able to play.
Another player present on the squad list but not in person is Aston Villa star Leon Bailey, who Hallgrímsson named to the roster but who continues to decline to play for the Reggae Boyz amidst frustration with the coaching staff and the Jamaica Football Federation.
Still, Jamaica will not be without an attacking threat. West Ham United forward Michail Antonio will lead the line and, after missing out on June’s World Cup qualification matches with an injury, winger Demarai Gray is fit and ready for Copa América.
El Tri’s attacking situation will be closely watched during the tournament, with no Lozano but with several players coming in off red-hot seasons in Liga MX. Uriel Antuna, who led the league in scoring with Cruz Azul, and Julián Quiñoes are options out wide, as is energetic Pumas playmaker Cesar Huerta, while expectations are heavy on Santi Giménez, who has starred with Feyenoord but is yet to find a huge return in international play.
In a Group B that looks like the most open in the competition, points will be at a premium. Both teams will hope to secure all three in the opener before games with Ecuador and Venezuela.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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