MIAMI, Florida – Montserrat have become one of the great revelations in recent years not just in Concacaf, but all of world football.
The Caribbean island with a population of nearly 5,000 has become one of the toughest opponents in the region, and no better example of that was their performance in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.
The Emerald Boys amassed a 3W-0D-1L record, the lone loss being a last-minute 2-1 defeat to El Salvador, and finished 11th in CNLQ, narrowly missing out on automatic qualification for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.
That near-miss has made Montserrat only hungrier and their play in both League B of the 2019-20 CNL and Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 suggests that they could be on the verge of something special in the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims.
Things begin for Montserrat on July 2 when they tangle with Trinidad and Tobago in the first round.
Montserrat go into the contest after second place finishes in their group in League B of the 2019-20 CNL and CWCQ.
Leading the way will be FW Lyle Taylor, who scored five goals in Montserrat’s four matches in CWCQ, including braces in a 2-2 draw at Antigua and Barbuda and in the 2-1 win at Grenada.
Like always, Montserrat will boast a side that has heavy experience playing in Europe, with 24 players on Head Coach Willie Donachie’s provisional roster hailing from England’s lower leagues.
In addition to Nottingham Forest dangerman Taylor, there is DF Donervon Daniels at Crewe Alexandra, Maidenhead United DFs James Comley and Rohan Ince and MF Brandon Comley of Bolton Wanderers.
After being the lone team to win three games in CNLQ and still not qualify for the 2019 Gold Cup, Montserrat will be out to take the next step in 2021, beginning with Trinidad and Tobago in the Prelims.
