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Leon Bailey and the dream Jamaica XI West Ham ace Michail Antonio can join for World Cup 2022
West Ham striker Michail Antonio could be linking up with former Hammer Ravel Morrison for The Reggae Boyz
The Jamaican FA
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has been approached by the Jamaican FA to represent the country of his parents’ birth in a bid to qualify the Caribbean Island for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The “Reggae Boyz” have not graced the world stage since their unlikely appearance at France 1998. The Jamaicans failed to win any of their first four games in the final qualifying stage for the 1998 World Cup but an impressive end to qualifying saw them seal their place at their first World Cup finals.
The team recorded three back-to-back 1-0 victories before draws with Mexico and El Salvador were enough to send the island into raptures as the President declared the following day a national holiday to celebrate the remarkable achievement.
Three million inhabitants
Jamaica is an island nation of fewer than 3 million inhabitants and if they can navigate the Concacaf qualifying draw would be one of the smaller nations to secure passage to Qatar next year.
The Reggae Boyz will automatically go into the final round of Concacaf qualifying, an eight-team round robin with every nation playing the other home and away. Jamaica’s first two matches see them take on Mexico and Costa Rica, with other confirmed opponents being Honduras and the United States of America.
Michail Antonio
The three top-placed teams automatically qualify for the World Cup with an inter-continental play-off berth available for the side in fourth. Jamaica are the third-highest ranked Concacaf nation in the FIFA World Rankings and with a fit Michail Antonio on their side, the island nation will see its chances of qualifying skyrocket.
Jamaica lies 47th in the FIFA ranking system, sandwiched between Iceland in 46th and Scotland in 48th, it is the highest they have been since they ended 2005 in 42nd.
If Antonio decides that Jamaica is the way forward for him, the striker could line-up alongside former Hammer Ravel Morrison.
The 28-year-old Morrison made his international debut in November 2020 having previously represented England at an under-21 level.
Antonio has not represented England at any level but has twice been called into the England setup, first by Sam Allardyce in 2016 and again by Gareth Southgate in 2018, however, he failed to make an appearance and because of this is still eligible for Jamaica.
Leon Bailey
In the most recent international window, Jamaica ran out 2-1 winners over Saudi Arabia with several European-based players on show.
The big name in the Jamaican set-up is highly rated Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Leon Bailey, the 23-year-old has 8 caps to his name and would be the man Antonio would look to to provide him with the chances he needs.
Morrison lined up as a wide-forward against Saudi Arabia with, Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid on the opposite wing. Decordova-Reid, like Antonio and Morrison, was born in the UK to Jamaican parents and chose to represent the Reggae Boyz in 2019.
Decordova-Reid’s club teammate Michael Hector has been a regular for Jamaica since his 2015 debut, with the former Chelsea man making 32 appearances over the past 5 years.
The possible Jamaican World Cup XI includes Antonio, Dwayne Miler, Oneil Fisher, Greg Leigh, Damion Lowe, Michael Hector, Leon Bailey, Norman Campbell, Daniel Johnson, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and Ravel Morrison.
Usain Bolt
One man who had hopes of becoming a professional footballer was 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt. The 8-time Olympic Champion switches his focus to football following his retirement from athletics in 2018 spending a period on trial in Australia with the Central Coast Mariners.
Despite his undeniable speed on the break, Bolt was not able to make enough of a mark to be awarded a professional deal and will not be partnering what would be a blistering pace attack of Bailey, Decordova-Reid, Antonio, Bolt for Jamaica as they strive to qualify for the World Cup.
Antonio’s club manager David Moyes said of his striker’s international prospects:
Opportunity
“I am still holding out that Mick will play for England and may have the chance to be selected and if he scores lots of goals that might be an opportunity.”
“But if he chose to go for Jamaica, I would certainly not say no to that, that would be his decision.”
“If Antonio does decide Jamaica is who he wishes to represent the Reggae Boyz could well have found the missing piece in their 23-year wait for a return to the World Stage.”
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