Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the CONCACAF Gold Cup match.
Both teams came away empty-handed after the opening round, but while Jamaica faced a relatively even opponent, any rival in this group presents a serious challenge for Guadeloupe.
Jamaica
The notion of parity is reflected in the FIFA rankings, where Jamaica currently sits 63rd, while Guatemala is ranked 106th. Despite this, the team underperformed. Even with players like Leon Bailey of Aston Villa and former Everton winger Demarai Gray in the starting line-up, the side failed to convert a single opportunity. Guatemala scored the decisive goal in the 32nd minute and also had an earlier effort ruled out for offside in the 18th. Later, in the 70th minute, goalkeeper Andre Blake had to make a full-stretch save to deny a second goal.
Guadeloupe
The squad came up against not only the top seed in Group C but also the previous CONCACAF Gold Cup finalists, Panama. In the penalty area of Panama, the fourth-ranked side in the confederation controlled the tempo throughout. Despite lacking a FIFA ranking, Guadeloupe found the net twice and remained competitive in shots on target (six compared to eight for Panama).
Jamaica vs Guadeloupe Prediction
Given the evident issues with finishing for Jamaica, they cannot be considered overwhelming favourites against Guadeloupe. It’s worth recalling the 2021 Gold Cup, where Jamaica managed only a narrow 2:1 victory. A dominant win seems unlikely, which is why we are backing a positive handicap in favour of the underdog.
