Preview: Jamaica vs. Suriname - prediction, team news, lineups

Jamaica will open their Gold Cup campaign on Monday when they host Suriname at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.

The Reggae Boyz come into this competition having gone winless in their last four matches, while Natio were knocked out of World Cup qualifying in their previous encounter, losing 4-0 to Canada.

Match preview

Heading into this tournament, the Jamaicans will hope that they can finally break through and triumph having come so close lately, with three straight semi-final appearances at the Gold Cup, losing twice in the final in 2015 and 2017.

Manager Theodore Whitmore has moulded this team into one of the strongest in the region, who have risen to prominence in CONCACAF since his arrival.

Whitmore knows a thing or two about performing on the international stage, having featured for Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in their lone victory of that competition, 2-1 over Japan, in what is to date their only appearance at the finals.

Before they turn their attention to the Hexagonal phase of World Cup qualifying, they will be hungry to finally capture this trophy which has narrowly eluded them numerous times.

This team failed to qualify for this competition in 2013, but they have made up for lost time since then, going unbeaten in their last nine group stage matches at the Gold Cup and winning their first knockout match each time.

The core of this team play their club football in Major League Soccer, many in starring roles, which shows how far this country have come in developing talent, many of whom are thriving at club level and can maintain that form on the international stage.

As one of the up and coming teams in the region, Suriname will be keen to make a splash in their inaugural appearance at the Gold Cup.

With most of their players featuring in Europe, many in the different divisions in the Netherlands, this is a team who are used to the pressure of competition.

Their coach Dean Gorre brings a vast array of knowledge and experience both as a player and a manager, having featured himself for some elite European clubs such as Ajax and Feyenoord.

Despite being out of contention for the World Cup next year, this is not a team to be underestimated, as they have shown they can be clinical in front of goal.

Before their defeat to Canada, they had won their three previous matches this year by a combined score of 15-0, making a statement that they are a team that others should keep an eye on.

As they prepare for their inaugural campaign, Suriname will take some inspiration from the success of other first-time participants at the Gold Cup, specifically Guadeloupe, who made the semi-finals of this tournament in 2007, defeating Canada and Honduras along the way.

Team News

The Philadelphia Union will be well represented at the Gold Cup, with goalkeeper Andre Blake among the best at his position in MLS, after being named the top keeper in the league last season and capturing the Gold Glove Award in this competition in 2017.

As good as he has been at club level, he has gotten a lot of help from two fellow Jamaicans, including Union defender Alvas Powell, who has been rock solid at the back and striker Cory Burke, who leads Philadelphia in goals this season with four.

In midfield, the pair of Lamar Walker and Devon Williams could be a handful for opposing teams, as the Miami FC teammates possess a lot of pace and creativity, notably Williams, who is nicknamed "speedy" for a reason.

Suriname defender and captain Ryan Donk has only made four appearances for the senior side, but he does have a wealth of knowledge and experience in big game situations, currently playing in the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray.

Striker Gleofilo Vlijter has quickly made a name for himself for both club and country, scoring 10 goals at the CONCACAF Nations League, with 11 international goals in just nine appearances and having recently signed with Beitar Jerusalem in Israel.

Their full-backs Ridgeciano Haps and Dion Malone are two solid and versatile players who have been known to move up to midfield, with both players currently featuring in Holland.

Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Blake; Lawrence, Powell, Moore, Fisher; Lowe, Mariappa, Williams, Walker; Burke, Bailey

Suriname possible starting lineup:
Hahn; Haps, Donk, Leerdam, Malone; Biseswar, Koolwijk, Alberg, Becker; Hasselbaink, Vlijter

We say: Jamaica 2-1 Suriname

The Jamaicans may not be in the best form at the moment, but they have a lot of experience in this competition, and they are hungry to make another deep run at the Gold Cup.

Suriname are no slouch, and they showed how dangerous they can be in attack at the CONCACAF Nations League, but they have not played many elite teams over the past few years.