The host nation booked their place in this week's showpiece event by virtue of an impressive 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in the last four. Second-half strikes from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey were enough to see Bruce Arena’s men progress to the final, while the clean sheet was the third they have kept in as many games. The United States’ campaign did not get off to the best of starts, with Panama holding them to a 1-1 draw in Nashville and Martinique almost taking a point from their meeting with the Stars and Stripes four days later; since, then, though, the hosts have found their feet and begun to turn on the style as they seek their sixth Gold Cup crown of all time.
If the United States’ involvement in Thursday’s final comes as no surprise, the same cannot be said for their opponents. Hopes were not high for Jamaica heading into the tournament; after all, despite finishing as runners-up in the 2015 edition, the Reggae Boyz had recently lost the Caribbean Cup final to Curacao and been defeated in eight of their last 12 outings in all competitions. Another run to the final was not expected, then, but Theodore Whitmore’s charges have defied the odds to move to within 90 minutes of glory. Their 1-0 triumph over Mexico in the semi-finals will go down as one of the best results in the nation’s recent history.
Jamaica began the tournament in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but Whitmore has since shifted to a 4-4-2 and will stick with that setup here. The team will aim to stay compact in the defensive phase of play and will be reasonably happy to cede possession, with a focus on breaking at speed when control of the ball changes hands. Darren Mattocks and Romario Williams will continue up top, with Omar Gordon and Shaun Francis out wide and Jermaine Taylor and Damion Lowe at centre-half.
The United States also started out with a 4-2-3-1, before switching to a 4-4-2 in the knockout stage. Clint Dempsey could return to the starting XI following his decisive goal against Costa Rica, but Arena will probably otherwise keep faith with the same line-up. That would mean Graham Zusi, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler and Jorge Villafana continuing at the back, as well as a central midfield partnership of Michael Bradley and Kellyn Acosta.
Taking everything into account, it could be a worth a small flutter on Jamaica winning the Gold Cup for the first time. It will patently be a big ask for the Reggae Boyz to defeat the hosts in front of their own supporters, but they have already made it further than many anticipated and may pull off another shock at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The odds available on a Jamaica win are certainly more tempting than those offered on a United States triumph.
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