Curaçao vs Honduras
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 30: Curaçao team line up during the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarter Final match between United States of America v Curaçao at Lincoln Financial Field on June 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Having reached the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League Finals, Honduras will be hoping to repeat that achievement this time too.
In 2019, la H topped their group, above Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago, before losing 1-0 to the U.S. in last summer’s semi-finals.
Since then though, los Catrachos have endured a miserable World Cup qualifying campaign, failing to win any of their 14 matches, losing ten.
So, this is Honduras’ first chance to prove their not a fading force, against a Curaçao side who are on the up.
Three summers ago, they caused a big upset by reaching the Gold Cup quarter-finals, before missing the last edition due to an untimely Covid-19 outbreak.
In this competition, Curaçao amassed five points three years ago, finishing one point above Haiti and one below group winners Costa Rica.
Canada complete League A Group C’s quartet, meaning these two will be battling it out to stay at this level.
Thus, this matchday one clash at Ergilio Hatostadion could prove to be key.
Bahamas vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The two minnows in League B Group C kick off their campaigns against each-other at Thomas Robinson Stadium.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines won three of their six matches at this level last time round, only finishing two points below Suriname who were promoted.
However, the Vincy Heat come into this having lost five of their last six competitive outings, conceding 23 goals in these defeats.
Bahamas meanwhile are competing at this level for the first time having won promotion from the bottom-tier in 2019.
The Bahamian Slayersz amassed ten points from four fixtures, swatting aside Bonaire and the British Virgin Islands.
Now though, can they compete at the level above, starting with this game in Nassau?
Nicaragua vs Trinidad and Tobago
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – JULY 06: Andre Fortune #14 of Trinidad & Tobago celebrates with his teammates after winning in penalties shootout against French Guiana as part of CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 preliminaries at DRV PNK Stadium on July 6, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Will fallen giants Trinidad & Tobago start to climb back up the CONCACAF ladder?
The Soca Warriors represented the region at World Cup 2006, before reaching the quarter-finals at the Gold Cups of 2013 and 2015.
In the past, T&T have always gone deep in World Cup qualifying but, last year, were eliminated in the first round by St. Kitts & Nevis.
Before this, they were relegated from Nations League A, accumulating just two points from fixtures against Honduras and Martinique.
Thus, Angus Eve is the man tasked with brining the glory days back to Trinidad & Tobago, with his first objective promotion back to the top-tier.
Nicaragua are likely to be their toughest opponents in that regard, making this fixture in Managua key.
La Azul y Blanco came third in their group last time round, beating Dominica twice but finishing six points below group winners Suriname.
So, could an away win be on the cards at Estadio Nacional de Fútbol?
Sint Maarten vs U.S. Virgin Islands
Will Sint Maarten earn their first-ever point in the CONCACAF Nations League?
Last time round, Elvis Albertus’ side lost all four matches in this tournament, scoring in each game but conceding 15 in total.
Given that their visitors are the United States Virgin Islands, this illusive victory could come here.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are ranked 208 in the world with only the British VI, Anguilla and San Marino below them.
Although, the Dashing Eagles have actually won a game in this competition, beating Saint Martin 2-1, losing their other five fixtures.
Will either claim an historic win in Willemstad?
Turks and Caicos Islands vs Bonaire
DENVER, CO – JUNE 06: The Trophy of Championship is displayed during the CONCACAF Nations League Championship Final between United States and Mexico at Empower Field At Mile High on June 6, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Will Turks and Caicos Islands’ respectable record in the CONCACAF Nations League continue?
Three years ago, they beat Sint Maarten home and away, but were also hammered twice by Guadeloupe, most recently going down 10-0.
Nevertheless, actually facing other minnows this time, Omar Edwards’ team will expect to get some points on the board.
Bonaire meantime only lost one of four games in this competition in 2019, pipped to promotion by Bahamas.
In a well-balanced game, Turks and Caicos Islands will be looking to make home advantage count at TCIFA National Academy.
Saint Martin vs Aruba
Having suffered relegation in 2019, Aruba will be hoping for more luck in the lowest Nations League division.
Competing in the second-tier three years ago, Aruba never got going, losing all six matches, conceding 18 goals in the process.
Now down in the third-tier Marvic Bermúdez’s team will very much be targeting that illusive first victory.
With St, Kitts & Nevis completing the trio in Group B, Saint Martin are very much the minnows.
Although, they were actually competitive in this competition three years ago, winning three of six matches, finishing third.
This one could go either-way at Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre.
British Virgin Islands vs Cayman Islands
The teams ranked 209th and 195th in the world by FIFA go head-to-head in Road Town.
In the World Rankings, British Virgin Islands find themselves third bottom, with only Anguilla and San Marino below them.
So, unsurprisingly, the Nature Boyz come into this having lost eight consecutive competitive games, conceding 34 goals in these matches.
Aside from a 2-2 draw with Turks and Caicos Islands in March 2019, British VI have been beaten in 13 successive fixtures.
Thus Cayman Islands, who are hardly heavyweights, will be confident of a victory.
They actually won four of six matches during the inaugural Nations League, only missing out on promotion behind Barbados on goal difference.
Also, last year, Benjamin Pugh’s side held Bermuda, a side recently in League A, to a 1-1 draw during World Cup qualifying.
All of this suggests an away win is likely at A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground.
