The Grenada national football team represents Grenada in international football and is controlled by the Grenada Football Association, a member of the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team is nicknamed The Spice Boys, a reference to the country being dubbed as the "Island of Spice" or the "Spice Isle".
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| Nickname(s) | Spice Boys | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Grenada Football Association | ||||||||||
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||||||||||
| Sub-confederation | CFU (Caribbean) | ||||||||||
| Head coach | Michael Findlay[1] | ||||||||||
| Most caps | Cassim Langaigne (72) | ||||||||||
| Top scorer | Ricky Charles (37) | ||||||||||
| Home stadium | Kirani James Stadium | ||||||||||
| FIFA code | GRN | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| FIFA ranking | |||||||||||
| Current | 170  1 (31 March 2022)[2] | ||||||||||
| Highest | 88 (July 2009) | ||||||||||
| Lowest | 176 (December 2007) | ||||||||||
| First international | |||||||||||
 Grenada 2–1 British Guiana  (Grenada; 13 October 1934) | |||||||||||
| Biggest win | |||||||||||
 Grenada 14–1 Anguilla  (St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 15 April 1998) | |||||||||||
| Biggest defeat | |||||||||||
 Curaçao 10–0 Grenada (Willemstad, Curaçao; 10 September 2018) | |||||||||||
| Gold Cup | |||||||||||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 2009) | ||||||||||
| Best result | Group stage (2009, 2011, 2021) | ||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||
Grenada has never qualified for the World Cup but have finished second in the Caribbean Cup in 1989 and 2008. Their second-place finish in the 2008 Caribbean Cup gave Grenada its first qualification to a major international competition, that being the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
HistoryEdit
Beginnings and early tournaments (1934–1989)Edit
Granada played its first international match, on 13 October 1934, against British Guiana, which they defeated 2–1. They played British Guiana twice, Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis before the Second World War started in 1939, winning all of those contests.
In 1961, Grenada participated in the Windward Islands Tournament, losing their opening game to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6–3, but winning their next two matches against Saint Lucia 4–0 and Dominica 8–1 to win the tournament. Grenada won the tournament again the following year, beating Saint Vincent 2–1 in the final, and for four consecutive years from 1967 to 1970.
Grenada played their first competitive match in the 1979 CFU Championship qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago, losing 3–1 on aggregate. Grenada entered the 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification but lost in the preliminary round to Guyana 8–4 over two legs. Their next competitive match came in the 1985 CFU Championship qualifiers, but they lost both matches and failed to progress past the first round. Grenada had more success in the CFU Championship's successor tournament, reaching the 1989 Caribbean Cup final before losing 2–1 to Trinidad and Tobago.
Caribbean Cup and qualifiers (1990–2010)Edit
Grenada qualified for the 1990 Caribbean Cup but lost again to Trinidad and Tobago, this time 5–0 before drawing with Jamaica 0–0 therefore failing to advance. In the qualifiers for the 1994 Caribbean Cup, Grenada was eliminated by Barbados in an infamous match where Barbados purposefully scored an own-goal in order to force overtime and help them to advance, which they did. Grenada qualified to the 1997 Caribbean Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Saint Kitts and Nevis. Grenada entered the 1998 World Cup qualifiers but after getting through the preliminary round by beating Guyana 8–1 on aggregate, they lost 7–1 over two legs to Haiti.
In the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, Grenada was knocked out by Barbados who won with a tight 5–4 aggregate score. They were luckier four years later in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, once again eliminating Guyana (8–1 on aggregate) in the first round before falling to the USA who edged them 6–2. Granada would close this decade with a new World Cup disappointment, in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, being eliminated by Costa Rica 5–2.
Gold CupEdit
Nineteen years after finishing runner-up in the 1989 Caribbean Cup, the Spice Boyz once again reached the final, in the 2008 edition, although they lost to the hosts, Jamaica 2–0. However, this result allowed them to qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time, however Grenada failed to score a goal in the competition whilst conceding ten times and collecting no points. In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Grenada reached the semi-finals before again being eliminated by Jamaica though their performance earned them qualification for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup but they again failed to capitalise, losing all three group matches and scoring only a single goal.
2012–presentEdit
Since 2012, Grenada have not managed to progress to the Caribbean Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they finished bottom of their qualifying group despite being the top seed, then in 2018 World Cup qualification they were eliminated by Haiti in the third round.
In the 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying, Grenada suffered its largest ever defeat, losing 10–0 against Curaçao. They'd eventually qualify for League B before earning promotion to League A for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League competition.
Recent results and forthcoming fixturesEdit
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2021Edit
| 4 June WC 1st Round Qualifying | Antigua and Barbuda  | 1–0 | Grenada | North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda |
| 16:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report | Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Referee: Francia González (Mexico) |
| 8 June WC 1st Round Qualifying | Grenada | 1–2 |  Montserrat | St. George's, Grenada |
| 19:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report | Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium Referee: Adonai Escobedo (Mexico) |
| 13 July 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Honduras  | 4–0 | Grenada | Houston, United States |
| 22:10 UTC−5 | Report | Stadium: BBVA Stadium Attendance: 10,625 Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico) |
| 17 July 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Grenada | 0–4 |  Qatar | Houston, United States |
| 18:30 UTC−5 | Report | Stadium: BBVA Stadium Referee: Armando Villarreal (United States) |
| 20 July 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Panama  | 3–1 | Grenada | Orlando, United States |
| 23:30 UTC−5 | Report |
|
Stadium: Exploria Stadium Referee: César Ramos (Mexico) |
2022Edit
| 23 March Friendly | Gibraltar  | 0–0 | Grenada | Gibraltar |
| Report | Stadium: Victoria Stadium Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Republic of Ireland) |
| 28 March Friendly | Andorra  | 1–0 | Grenada | Andorra la Vella, Andorra |
| 20:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Estadi Nacional |
| 4 June Nations League | El Salvador  | v | Grenada | San Salvador, El Salvador |
| 20:00 UTC−6 | Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlán |
| 7 June Nations League | Grenada | v | El Salvador | St. George's, Grenada |
| 19:00 UTC−4 | Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium |
| 10 June Nations League | United States  | v | Grenada | Austin, United States |
| 21:00 UTC−5 | Stadium: Q2 Stadium |
2023Edit
| 24 March Nations League | Grenada | v | United States | St. George's, Grenada |
| Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium |
Head coachesEdit
Rudi Gutendorf (1976)
Carlos Cavagnaro (1986–87)
Carlos Alberto da Luz (2000)
Franklyn Simpson (2002)
Alister De Bellotte (2004)- Anthony Modeste (2007–08)*
- Norris Wilson (2008–09)
Tommy Taylor (2009–10)- Franklyn Simpson (2010–11)
- Mike Adams (2011–12)
- Alister De Bellotte (2012)
- Clark John (2013–14)
- Anthony Modeste (2014–15)
Jorge Anon (2015)- Andrew Munro (2016)
- Ashley Folkes (2017–2018)
- Shalrie Joseph (2018–2019)
- Andrew Munro (2019–2020)
Michael Findlay (2021–present)
*Player-coach
PlayersEdit
Current squadEdit
The following players were called up for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[4]
Caps and goals correct as of 15 July 2021, after the match against Honduras.
Recent call-upsEdit
The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.
RecordsEdit
- As of 17 July 2021[5]
Players in bold still active with Grenada.
Most appearancesEdit
|
Top goalscorersEdit
|
Competition recordsEdit
FIFA World CupEdit
| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
 1930 to  1974 |
Part of  United Kingdom
|
Part of United Kingdom
| |||||||||||||
 1978
|
Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
 1982
|
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | ||||||||
 1986
|
Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
 1990
|
Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
| 1994
| |||||||||||||||
 1998
|
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||
  2002
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
| 2006
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||
 2010
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | |||||||||
 2014
|
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | |||||||||
 2018
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |||||||||
| 2022
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||
 2026
|
To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 39 | 53 | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
CONCACAF Championship & Gold CupEdit
| CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1963 to  1973 |
Part of United Kingdom
| |||||||
| 1977 |
Did not enter | |||||||
| 1981 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 1985 | Withdrew | |||||||
| 1989 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 1991
| ||||||||
| 1993 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 1996
| ||||||||
| 1998
| ||||||||
| 2000
| ||||||||
| 2002
| ||||||||
| 2003
| ||||||||
| 2005
| ||||||||
| 2007
| ||||||||
| 2009 |
Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| 2011 |
Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| 2013 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2015
| ||||||||
| 2017
| ||||||||
  2019
| ||||||||
| 2021 |
Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
| Total | Group stage | 11th | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 36 |
CONCACAF Nations LeagueEdit
| CONCACAF Nations League record | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | Group | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | P/R | RK |
| 2019−20
|
B | A | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 |  |
15th |
 2022–23
|
A | D | To be determined | |||||||
| Total | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 15th | |||
CFU Caribbean CupEdit
| CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
 1978 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
 1979 |
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
 1981 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
| 1983
| |||||||||||||||
 1985 |
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||
 1988 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
| 1989 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 1990 |
Group Stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1991 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
| 1992 |
Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1993
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||
| 1994
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
 1995
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1996
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||
 1997 |
Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| 1998 |
Did not qualify | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | ||||||||
| 1999 |
Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2001 |
Did not qualify | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2005
|
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2007
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2008 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | |
| 2010 |
Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2012 |
Did not qualify | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||
| 2014
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
| 2017
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 9 | |||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 2nd | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 41 | 60 | 22 | 13 | 25 | 109 | 93 | |
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "Grenada Football Association Appoints New Senior Men's National Team Head Coach". Grenada Football Association. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "CONCACAF Gold Cup rosters". CONCACAF.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Grenada - Record International Players". RSSSF.
External linksEdit
- Grenada at FIFA.com
- Grenada at CONCACAF site
- Grenada Football Association official website