We dare say Jamaican football followers have been encouraged by the performance of the Reggae Boyz at the Concacaf Gold Cup ahead of their quarter-final clash with Central American team, Guatemala, in the US mid-west city of Cincinnati on Sunday.

From this newspaper’s vantage point the most pleasing aspects of the national team’s play, so far, have been their cohesion, fluidity, composure, and the strong impression a goal could come from any player.

We recognise, of course, that apart from their opening game against the United States, the Reggae Boyz were not seriously pressured in the first round.

Against hosts USA — notably without several of their big-name players — the Jamaicans seemed on course for a famous victory on the strength of Mr Damion Lowe’s headed strike. But the 13th ranked Americans found an 88th-minute equaliser for a 1-1 draw.

Things got easier at the group stage with 4-1 and 5-0 victories over Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts and Nevis, respectively.

The overall play in all areas — defence, midfield and attack — have given us confidence, though we note Coach Mr Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the team was not as tight defensively as it should have been in their last first-round game.

We agree with the coach that there need not be concern that talismanic striker Mr Michail Antonio is yet to score.

“I don’t mind who scores the goals and, honestly, he [Mr Antonio] doesn’t as well,” said Mr Hallgrímsson. “I’m not worried about that. He gives a lot of energy and opponents surround him so he opens space for others.”

We like the coach’s commitment to doing “…the simple things. Don’t complicate things when you have quality players… Their individual skills will take care of the details. So, it’s really pleasing how we have done, and we will continue that.”

Crucially, Mr Hallgrimsson, who is yet to lose a competitive game since taking over late last year — despite a string of adverse results in friendlies — has made it clear there will be no complacency against Guatemala.

“We need to focus,” he said after the win against St Kitts and Nevis. “The next team [Guatemala] is a strong opponent. We need to be focused and balanced, and we cannot be as open as we were in the second half [against St Kitts and Nevis]. We need to prepare for a totally different match the next time,” he added.

Guatemala actually surprised many analysts by squeezing the favourites in their first-round group, Canada, into second place. It means Canada must now seek to overcome USA in the other game of the double-header in Cincinnati, also on Sunday.

With an eye to World Cup qualifiers up ahead, Mr Hallgrimsson, his players, and all Jamaicans will also be paying keen attention to the other half of the quarter-finals today, in Arlington, Texas. Guest team Qatar — having hung on desperately for a surprise 1-0 win over Mexico — will be up against Panama, while always dangerous Costa Rica will face the Mexicans.

Whatever the results of these quarter-final games this weekend, good football seems guaranteed.