Nations League
Match Day 4 March 21 – 26th
The top 10 team will make the Gold Cup. Can we assume that the undefeated nations will make the
Gold Cup? They are Curacao, Haiti, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica and Martinique. That leaves only 4 open
spots. There are 9 teams with 6 points who have the best chance to get these spots. (Domenican Republic,
Guyana, Nicaragua and Monseratt are my guess.)
Teams : won win are in: Bermuda, Guyana Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts
#1 Curacao @ #21 Antigua and Barbuda. The Dutch island of Curacao have not conceded a goal this
entire tournament and have the most goals (21). The Dutch pounded Sharlie Joseph’s Spic Boyz 10-0
at home. They then went on the road and beat US Virgin Islands. The US Virgins suck….no pun
intended. The Dutch’s 3rd game was against the old French Sugar island of Guadeloupe. The Dutch
blew 6 goals past Guadeloupe and ended Guadeloupe dream of Gold Cup participation.
Antigua and Barbuda is already eliminated from Gold Cup consideration with loses to Martinique and
Saint Lucia. The Benna Boyz have to take the game seriously if they don’t want to get blown out.
Curacao has emerged as one of the top nation during this tournament. They has the monstrous 6’5”
Jimbertson Vapor playing forward and he leads the tournament with 6 goals in 3 games. He has plenty
of support with almost the entire team coming from European leagues, half are from the Dutch
leagues. This will be a Dutch victory for sure.
#2 @ Haiti (3-0) vs. #4 Cuba (3-0) Both Caribbean powers are so far undefeated. Both teams have
been challenged. Haiti just played in the hostile Central American nation of Nicaragua and came away
with a 2-0 win. They also played down a man for the 16 minute on. That is more than that 75% of the
game down and playing away. They also beat Saint Lucia away 2-1. They are road warriors.
Cuba first game they blew 11 goals past Turks and Caicos Islands at home. The second game beat the
Spice Boyz from Grenada away 2-0. Their 3rd game they showed their resolve by beating Dominican
Republic at home 1-0 and keeping a clean sheet with no goals scored against. Their last game is
against the other Caribbean power Haiti. I see a Haiti victory at home but still see Cuba qualify with
9 points and a +14 goal differential.
#3 @ Canada (3-0) vs. #12 French Guiana 2-0-1) in Toronto: Canada is 3-0 after beating US Virgins 8-0,
tiny Dominica 5-0 and getting a monstrous challenge away from Saint Kitts and Nevis 1-0. Canada only
need a tie to guarantee advancement. However Canada believes and so do I that they are much better
than what they have shown. I think the Maple Leafs will play a younger squad that has a mix of veterans.
They are playing at home and I see the Maple Leafs providing the fans with an attacking game. I see
the maple Leafs winning at home. #12 French Guiana The old French colonial nation of French
Guiana just beat their English speaking(colonial) rivals and neighbors Guyana is a tightly contested 2-1.
The game was played in the friendly confines of French Guiana. The game was anything but friendly, this
game had the most fouls called (9) of any match so far. This gives the French 6 points and 11th spot, which
is striking distance for the Gold Cup participation. Since I see 2 to 3 teams losing ahead of them they could
advance with a win in Toronto. However beating Guyana at home compared to traveling to cold Toronto in
March is a completely different story. This is where the dream of playing in 2 Gold Cup in a row ends for French
Guiana. I think the best French Guiana can do is a tie, but I see a Maple Leaf victory in the Cold Northern
Hemisphere.
#5 @Jamaica vs. #14 El Salvador. This will probably be one of the best games of qualification because of the
heavyweight El Salvador ramifications bring. These are 2 veteran teams of past CONCACAF Gold Cups. Jamaica is
undefeated 3-0 and has wins over Cayman Islands, Bonaire and a tight 2-1 home victory over Suriname. This is not
much to write to home about. Jamaica will be playing away and there is a possibility they could miss
the Gold Cup because of point differential. They have 9 points but 9 other nations have 6 points.
So if they lose they could be out. The Raggie Boyz will be playing to win.
El Salvador is desperate to win. They are 2-0-1. They have beaten Montserrat away which was a good
victory. They then beat Barbados at home 3-0 and feeling very good about themselves.
Los Cuscatlecos then traveled to Bermuda and were stung by the Gomby Warriors in Hamilton,
Bermuda 1-0. This so far is the upset of te tournament. Now Los Cuscatlecos are on the outside
looking at. They have a plethora of fans in the States who want to see them play here. El Salvador has
participated in the last 6 Gold Cups. Their team has been a staple for this tournament. They sit at the
#13 spot and need to win to qualify. A tie and they would need 6 of the other teams to lose or tie in
front of them. A tie most likely would see them out! El Salvador is desperate and serious, Jamaica is
talented, don’t like to lose. Do not miss this game. I will be hoping for an El Salvador win and have both
team qualify for the Gold Cup. Dont' expect Jamaica to get any calls in El Salvador.
#6 Martinique _3-0 @ #19 Guadeloupe: This is the battle of the French colonial Sugar Islands. This
Guadeloupe participates in Gold Cups 2007, 2009 and 2011 to make 3 total and were about to claim
supremicy over Martinique. The Nations Cup has not been kind to them. They did manage to beat
Saint Martin 3-0 but Aruba tied them at home then they unfortunately drew Curacao away and got a
pounding 6-0. By the well oiled Dutch!
Martinique have reasserted themselves and participates in the last 2017 Gold Cup to make 5 Gold
Cups total. Martinique now retains bragging rights over fellow rival Guadeloupe. Martinique is sitting
in a good spot and a win guarantees them Gold Cup participation. Martinique beat lowly British Virgin
Islands at home 4-0, then they got 3 points against a tough Puerto Rico team away 1-0. Match 3 was
against Antigua and Barbuda and they got 4 past their keeper to win 4-2. Even a tie will probably see
Martinique through. Martinique got lucky to draw Guadeloupe away since they will be comfortable
there in their sister Sugar Island. Since there is a real chance for Martinique to host a Gold Cup group
games, I see Les Matinino’s beating their arch rivals at Guadeloupe.
# 7 Bermuda (2-0-1) @ # 10 Dominican Republic. The winner is in. The loser is out. If there is a tie
game-both could be out with 7 points and a good Goal differential, since 6 other teams have 6 points
and will surpass them with victories. Bermuda lost their first game 1-3 to Aruba away. They did
rebound with a sound beating of lowly Sint Maarten 12-0 again at home. Then they played
El Salvador at home. This was the tightest game in the entire tournament. Bermuda stung the Central
American giants 1-0 and currently sit in the #7 spot.
Nahki Wells of Bermuda (Queen Park Rangers-striker) scored the goal and has made himself available
for the Dominican Republic crucial and deciding game.
Dominican Republic are also 2-0-1. I give the edge to Dominican Republic since they are at home.
DR beat two lowly teams in Bonaire and Cayman Islands, both who are already out of Gold Cup
consideration. However they did play Cuba in a tight 0-1 loss. This was a pretty even game. The game
was in Cuba. DR out shot Cuba 7 to 4 and 4 to 2 with shots on target. This game will probably end in
a tie and we will see both knocked out.
Prediction: If there is a winner- the winner is in. I am hoping for a winner. I see Bermuda playing a tight
, technically sound defense. It will be very difficult to score on them. I am hoping Domenican Republic wins
at home and we get to experience the Domenican Republic fans here in the states.
@ #8 Guyana vs. #13 Belize Guyana moved up the ranking after canceling the 2-2 tie with Barbados.
You see Barbados played ineligible players so the 2-3 tie game turned into a 3-0 win for Guyana. Their
second game they creamed Turks and Caicos 8-0. The 3rd game was against their French neighbor
French Guiana. This game we saw 9 yellow cards in a very physical contest. As Guyana pressed, this
open space for French Guiana and they secured the 2-1 victory. I see Guyana winning comfortable here.
The former British colony of Belize sits at #13 and needs help to get in Gold Cup. They are (2-0-1) and have
6 points. This English speaking Central American nation belted the Bahamas 4-0 at home. Their second
game they lost to a tough little Montserrat 1-0 and the 3rd game they rebounded with a hard fought
victory over Puerto Rico at home. So their 2 victories came against teams that are already knocked out
and their lost was against the smallest island of Montserrat. Their resume is not that good.
# 9 Saint Kitts & Nevis @ #16 Suriname (1-1-1 4) points Kitts first beat Puerto Rico 1-0 at home.
They then beat Saint Martin 10-0, this is why they sit in the 8th spot and not 14th. Then they played Canada
to a 1-0 loss at home. Saint Kitts has a quality team. If Saint Kitts wins they are in. Suriname tied
Dominica 0-0 away. Suriname then bounced back with a 5-0 drubbing of US Virgins who suck,,,,pun
intended. Suriname then traveled to Jamaica and lost a tight game 2-1. I see Suriname playing better
at home and winning here. This will knock Saint Kitts out of the top 10 eliminating both nations from
Gold Cup.
#10 Nicaragua v. @ 17 Barbados. Barbados first tied Guyana in Guyana 2-2. Not bad. However they
fielded an ineligible player the the official score turned to 0-3 loss to Guyana. Then lost to El Salvador
in El Salvador 0-3. Then they beat lowly US Virgin Islands 3-0. Their only win. They are home again
against a Central American nation of Nicaragua. Nicaragua has to win to retain their #10 spot to
guarantee participation in the Gold Cup. I see the Central American team prevailing in the Caribbean
Island.
#13 El Salvador @ #5 Jamaica Since I am predicting #7 Bermuda, # 9 Saint Kitts, # 12 French Giana
and #13 Belize all playing away and all losing to #9 Dominican Republic, #16 Suriname, #3 Canada and
#15 Guyana respectively. El Salvador has a chance to chance to play in the Gold Cup with a victory
against Jamaica. This is a tall task but El Salvador will play with heart in front of their fans in Central
America.
.
#14 Monserrat @ #26 Cayman Islands. Another Monserrat win here and they probably will be in once
Bermuda or Dominican Republic winner is determined. Since I am predicting Bermuda, Saint Kitts
French Guiana, Belize and El Salvador all lose. This opens the door for the smallest nation to grab the
#10 and final spot for the Gold Cup. WOW.!!!!
Surprises who did not make it El Salvador, French Guiana and Guadeloupe.
Biggest surprise making it, Bermuda, Monserrat and Curacao dominating fashion of finishing as the top
team
