The message from the Reggae Boyz camp is clear and unwavering: bounce back, and do it with purpose.
Head coach Steve McClaren and captain Andre Blake say Jamaica is ready to turn disappointment into determination when they face winless Bermuda Tuesday night in a crucial Concacaf World Cup Qualifier at the National Stadium at 7 o’clock.
Still stung by last Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Curacao, which cost them top spot in Group B, the Boyz know that nothing short of victory will suffice if they are to keep their World Cup dream alive. Jamaica currently sits second on six points, trailing Curacao by one, while Trinidad and Tobago have four and Bermuda remain without a point.
Curacao host Trinidad and Tobago at 6:00 pm (Jamaica time) in the group’s other game on Tuesday.
For McClaren and Blake, the equation is simple — win, and win convincingly.
Blake: “No excuses — we have to react like a big team”
Captain Andre Blake, returning to action after missing the early wins over Bermuda and Trinidad, did not sugarcoat the Curacao loss. The Philadelphia Union star admitted that the team struggled to adapt to the artificial surface at the Ergilio Hato Stadium, but said the real problem was execution.
“Last week was tricky, going there and playing on turf,” Blake reflected. “But there is no excuse from the players’ side. As professionals, we have to adapt wherever we go — both teams play on the same pitch. We had our chances and we didn’t take them; they did. That’s just football. We have to learn from it and keep getting better.”
With home advantage restored, Blake says the Boyz are mentally aligned and hungry to respond.
“We know exactly what we have to do,” he declared. “No game is easy and you don’t win on paper anymore. You have to show up ready to play. The mindset is right, the focus is clear — we’re going to go out there and execute.”
McClaren calls for energy, attitude, and ‘bouncebackability’
Head coach Steve McClaren, equally measured but firm, believes the defeat in Willemstad offered valuable lessons. The Englishman said the performance contained “plenty of positives,” and he remains confident that Jamaica can deliver a strong response Tuesday night.
“When I look at the stats — the possession, the entries into the box, the chances created — there was enough there to win two games,” McClaren noted. “We had 18 shots, seven on target. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in. So I said to the strikers: maybe we were saving the goals for tomorrow.”
McClaren emphasized that the hallmark of elite teams is how they recover from adversity.
“You never want to lose,” he said, “but top teams show resilience. Bouncebackability is a requisite of champions, and that’s what I expect to see.”
Fresh legs, renewed midfield power
Jamaica’s preparations have been boosted by the return of Isaac Hayden and Kasey Palmer, both back from suspension. Their availability gives McClaren the opportunity to inject fresh energy and dynamism into the midfield — something he insists is essential after the demanding trip to Curacao.
“For this game we need energy and attitude,” McClaren said. “We were unlucky to be missing Isaac and Kasey last time, but now we’ve got them back and we’ll make a few changes. You can’t play the same eleven twice and expect the same intensity. These two are integral to how our midfield operates — they bring balance, control, and that edge we need in transition.”
The coach hinted at further tactical adjustments as Jamaica seeks to reassert its authority over a Bermuda side that was beaten 4-0 in their first meeting. But he warned against complacency.
“Bermuda may not have any points, but football doesn’t work on form alone,” McClaren cautioned. “We’ve learned that every opponent deserves respect.”
Captain’s rallying cry: “We owe it to ourselves and to Jamaica”
For Blake, Tuesday night’s encounter is not just about points — it’s about pride, purpose, and a nation’s dream that has lingered too long. The 34-year-old has endured three unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaigns and he knows time is running out to create history.
“As professionals, we know we’ll lose games sometimes,” Blake said. “But what defines great players and great teams is how they react. We’re disappointed, yes, but the reaction has to be positive. We can’t dwell on the past — we have to learn, move forward, and focus on the next one.”
Blake’s sense of mission is deeply personal and national. “All I want is to do whatever it takes to make my teammates proud, to make the nation proud, to make the fans proud,” he said. “Jamaica deserves to be at the World Cup. That’s the goal, and every one of us is ready to give everything to make it happen.”
Fans as the 12th man
While Jamaica’s path to automatic qualification now depends on winning all three remaining matches, McClaren believes that home support could make the difference.
“We need everyone together tomorrow (Tuesday) — the players, the bench, and the stands,” he urged. “At times the game may get tense, but we have to stick together. The supporters are the 12th man, and that atmosphere could push us across the line. But we, the team, have to earn it.”
For all the analysis, numbers, and tactics, the challenge before the Reggae Boyz remains elemental: find rhythm, rediscover belief, and deliver three points.
As Blake summed it up simply:
“We know what we need to do — and we’re going to do it.”
