Curaçao
How they qualified
Curacao entered the CONCACAF Nations League Qualification and secured their qualification for the Gold Cup with a game to spare. They won those first three games scoring 21 goals, including a 10-0 win over Grenada. The only blot on their record was a 2-1 defeat in Antigua and Barbuda, but the goal difference was enough for them to finish 4th overall
Tournament record
As the Netherlands Antilles and as the successor nation Curacao, the team failed to qualify for the Gold on all but one previous occasion. After Patrick Kluivert kick-started the development of football on the island in his year in charge, the team went on to qualify for their first Gold Cup in 2017 after winning the final Caribbean Cup. Their first Gold Cup ended in three 2-0 defeats to Jamaica, El Salvador and Mexico, but they gained a lot of credit for their performances in 2017.
Star Men
A lot of players in the Curacao squad hail from and play their club football in the Netherlands, owing to Curacao’s position as a constituent country of the Netherlands. This has helped the development of the game on the island and Elson Hooi has been a beneficiary of that development. He scored the two goals that won Curacao the 2017 Caribbean Cup, then added three in qualifying for the Nations League.
He isn’t the top scorer in the Curacao squad either, as Leandro Bacuna has nine goals in his 21 appearances for his country and will be part of a midfield full of creative, attacking players.
Manager
Remko Bicentini took over from Patrick Kluivert in 2016 and has continued the development work that Kluivert started, blooding a lot of new players and creating a mix of Dutch-Curacaoan players with local talent. It has brought them two qualifications for the Gold Cup and the final Caribbean Cup in 2017 and there is the potential to do more with Bicentini in charge.
What can we expect?
2017 was a learning experience for Curacao as they saw the level they were at and what they needed to do to progress. This time around, they come in as dangerous dark-horses who could spring a surprise. The first game against El Salvador will be key to their future plans, but they could get to the Quarter-finals if conditions are right.
Schedule
17 June – Curacao v El Salvador
Venue: Independence Park, Kingston
21 June – Curacao v Honduras
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston
25 June – Curacao v Jamaica
Venue: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles
SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Eloy Room 06-02-1989 PSV Eindhoven
Jarzinho Pieter 11-11-1987 Vesta
Zeus de la Paz 11-03-1995 Oldham Athletic
DEFENDERS
Cuco Martina 25-09-1989 Feyenoord
Shermar Martina 14-04-1996 MVV
Darryl Lachman 11-11-1989 PEC Zwolle
Jurich Carolina 15-07-1998 NAC Breda
Jurien Gaari 23-12-1993 RKC Waalwijk
MIDFIELDERS
Michael Maria 31-01-1995 Charlotte Independence
Roly Bonevacia 08-10-1991 Western Sydney Wanderers
Leandro Bacuna 21-08-1991 Cardiff City
Shanon Carmelia 20-03-1989 Ijsselmeervogels
Shermaine Martina 14-04-1996 MVV
Zinjo Constansia 06-04-1990 Jong Holland
Jimbertson Vapor 10-02-1996 Scherpenheuvel
Ayrton Statie 22-07-1994 Lienden
STRIKERS
Jarchinio Antonia 27-12-1990 AEL Limassol
Charlison Benschop 21-08-1989 Ingolstadt
Gevero Nepomuceno 10-11-1992 Oldham Athletic
Gervane Kastaneer 09-06-1996 NAC Breda
Gino van Kessel 09-03-1993 Roeselare
Elson Hooi 01-10-1991 ADO Den Haag
Jafar Arias 16-06-1995 Emmen