After Jamaica started their 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign with a defeat to Guatemala, Head Coach Steve McClaren says a change in mentality will be needed if they are to progress in the tournament.

The Reggae Boyz were stunned by the Guatemalans 1-0 at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Monday, with Oscar Santis finding the winner in the 32nd minute. It’s the first time that Jamaica lost their opening game of the tournament since 2009.

It was a much different performance and result from when the Jamaicans won 3-0 at the National Stadium last week, as Guatemala who made nine changes, provided most of the game’s goalmouth action with captain Andre Blake forced into three saves. Leon Bailey and Jon Russell registered Jamaica’s only two shots on target which barely troubled Guatemala’s goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.

The defeat means they will need a win against Guadeloupe on Friday if they are to improve their chances of advancing from the group.

McClaren says the Boyz must change their approach and emulate Guatemala’s hunger.

“What we’ve got to do now is turn that around and make sure that we react on Friday and make sure that we prepare properly and the reaction is we have to win on Friday. We have to impose ourselves,” he said.

“You have to have an aggressive mentality — that overcomes everything. So when you’re the underdog, which obviously after the first result, Guatemala felt that and they performed like underdogs, they fought like mad and we have to do the same. People talk a lot about tactics, this formation or that formation but it’s about players, it’s about being aggressive, winning duels, getting the basics right.”

Despite the addition of Brentford star Ethan Pinnock, the team suffered two major losses as defender Mason Holgate and midfielder Isaac Hayden were ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to injury.

Thirty-year-old Hayden’s presence in midfield was seen as the bigger miss as Damion Lowe and Joel Latibeaudiere were filling in throughout the game.

The duo’s replacements Mount Pleasant Football Academy captain Sue-Lae McCalla and Charlton Athletic’s Karoy Anderson can play in that role, and McClaren hopes they can make a difference.

“That [number] six [position] has always been a problem,” McClaren said. “I know in the past, we’ve had Damion. I thought we need some aggression and someone who could break up play and he certainly did that on a few occasions. We do have a problem in that position. I think Latty came in in that second half and did very well in that with great attitude but we certainly do have a problem.

“We’ve always known that when we don’t have Isaac it’s a big loss but we have to deal with that and somebody has to step in, step forward, take the mantle and help the team in that position.”

One of the few positives from the defeat was the surprising return of striker Michail Antonio who came on as an 85th minute substitute. It was the 35-year-old’s first bit of action since December when he was involved in a near-fatal car crash.

McClaren is optimistic Antonio can make more of an impact going forward.

“He trained with us two weeks ago in London,” McClaren said. “We said then it was a miracle and he’s trained two days with us and he’s come on the field and from where he was after the accident, to be playing, to be walking is a miracle. We’re delighted, we need that kind of leadership. We’ll build up his fitness as much as we possibly can so it was good to get him minutes on the field.”

Jamaica and Guadeloupe sit third and fourth, respectively, in Group C with 0 points while Panama and Guatemala are first and second, respectively, with three points. Only the top two will advance to the knockout stages.

Jamaica’s Leon Bailey (left) and Guatemala’s Carlos Aguilar during their FIFA World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Tuesday, June 10. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)