Grenada and Suriname can win their first-ever encounters in League A when the two sides face each other in their opening fixture at the CONCACAF Nations League on Friday at Kirani James Athletic Stadium.
Both teams competed in the top tier of this tournament in 2022-23, each registering just a single point in their respective groups.
Match preview
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A program that has garnered more attention in CONCACAF lately has also suffered its share of growing pains along the way.
Playing against the most formidable teams in the region has proven to be a steep learning curve for Grenada, who were outscored 11-1 at the Gold Cup in 2021, following that up by finishing bottom of their group at the 2022-23 Nations League, conceding 17 times in four matches, including seven at home to the United States in their final encounter on the A side of that tournament.
Needless to say, there is plenty of room for improvement for a team that are still winless under the guidance of Terry Connor, who had often worked as an assistant alongside Mick McCarthy with Ipswich Town and the Ireland national team, among others.
The 60-year-old ex-striker born in Leeds had not been a head coach since taking charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012, and he is discovering how challenging it can be to compete against some of the big teams in this region.
It has been nearly a whole year since this team last claimed a victory on the international stage, scoring five unanswered goals to defeat Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1 in October 2022, while they have not won a match played at their home stadium in St. George's since late March 2021 (1-0 over the US Virgin Islands).
Lately, Grenada have constantly had to fight their way back into matches, scoring first on only one occasion in 2023, while they have only been in front on two occasions this year, with their longest lead lasting a mere 13 minutes when they drew Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2-2 in February.
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Two years after a solid showing at the 2021 Gold Cup, Suriname have struggled to make another leap forward and prove they belong with the big nations in CONCACAF.
Natio were held 0-0 by Puerto Rico in their first-round Gold Cup playoff this year, losing out in a penalty shootout, and extending their winless run to three successive matches dating back to November 2022.
Although they only managed a single point in their first League A appearance in 2022-23, Suriname were by no means an easy out, as they held Jamaica to a 1-1 draw in their opening match and played another elite CONCACAF nation in Mexico to a 0-0 scoreline until the 64th minute, eventually losing that game 2-0.
Manager Aron Winter, a former Dutch international, has a mix of players young and old to choose from in their opening two matches, though there is not a lot of international experience within the group as only one player has over 20 caps for the national team.
A-Selektie have been shut out in both of their matches played this year but have not lost in normal time versus a Caribbean opponent since conceding three unanswered goals at home to French Guiana in a November 2022 friendly (3-1).
They are undefeated against Grenada, meeting them on four previous occasions at the now-defunct Caribbean Cup, winning the last matchup against them in 2014 (1-0).
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Team News
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Lucas Akins and Chad Phillip are the only two Grenada players selected for this Nations League fixture that have not featured for the senior side, while Jason Belfon is the most experienced of those chosen, currently three caps shy of 50.
Jamal Charles can take over sole possession of second place in all-time goals for the national team, as he is currently on 17 for the Spice Boys, tied with Kithson Bain, while Joshua Isaac has found the back of the net six times for his country, one fewer than team captain Saydrel Lewis, who himself is in a three-way tie for fifth.
Kairo Mitchell had the equalising goal in their Gold Cup playoff versus Guyana, but Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong saw his penalty saved, eliminating Grenada from that competition.
There are three Suriname players selected for this camp who have yet to earn a senior cap, including Renske Adipi, Faustino Benali and Stefano Denswil, while Sergino Eduard has made 27 appearances, more than anyone on the roster.
Eduard can surpass Dimitrie Arpai for fourth in all-time appearance with the national team, as they are both on 30, while Gleofilo Vlijter can draw even with Stefano Rijssel for the most goals scored for Natio should he find the back of the net on Friday, as the Doxa Katokopias striker is currently on 13.
Warner Hahn kept Puerto Rico off the scoresheet throughout the 90 minutes of that Gold Cup qualifying fixture in June, but Mitchell te Vrede and Shaquille Pinas each missed their penalty kicks as Suriname failed to make the group stage of that competition,
Grenada possible starting lineup:
Reice Charles-Cook; Williams, Harrack, Pierre; Regan Charles-Cook, A. Charles; J. Charles, Lewis, Hippolyte; Mitchell, Berkeley-Agyepong
Suriname possible starting lineup:
Hahn; Leerdam, Pinas, Abena, Paal; Eduard, Klas; Cronie, R. Vlijter, Jozefzoon; G. Vlijter
We say: Grenada 0-2 Suriname
The FIFA rankings may not always be an indication of the superiority of one side over another, but Suriname being 31 places above Grenada seems justified, given how each have performed in CONCACAF competitions of late.
Not only have Suriname put together stronger showings when compared to Grenada, but they look like a much more balanced team both defensively and in the attack, so we believe they will have the upper hand on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
