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The 2015 Copa America runs from June 11 to July 4, but few observers expect to see Jamaica stick around beyond June 20 - the date of the Reggae Boyz' final group stage match.
But that is not to say Jamaica cannot spring an upset, just that it seems unlikely. Head Coach Winfried Schaefer has said he hopes "the Jamaican people are proud of us" at whatever point his team bows out of the tournament. Any pride is expected to rest more on competitive performances rather than wins.
The Reggae Boyz' preparations seem somewhat imperfect: there have been no international friendlies for the 23-man squad to use to find chemistry and form; players have been drifting in to training camp on a schedule that won't see the last man (Je-Vaughn Watson) arrive until after the first match.
This is not the ideal manner in which to ready an underdog side to take on some of the better teams in the world, let alone South America. Jamaica will play Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina in the group stage. Two of the third-placed teams from the three groups will advance to the knockout rounds, so the Reggae Boyz will likely have a mathematical chance of advancing right the way through to their third and last group match - despite being expected to lose every game they play.
But it will be a tough task. In their opening match of the tournament, Jamaica faces Uruguay, the defending Copa America champion. There will be no Luis Suarez to worry about - he is still suspended for his 2014 World Cup indiscretions - and La Celeste is considered a team in transition.
Still, the senior core of players - Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Arevalo Rios, Edinson Cavani - are well respected. And this is the tournament Uruguay hopes will identify some stars of the next generation.
Jamaica too is in transition, hoping to find a squad capable of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup from a busy summer that includes this tournament and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Schaefer's Copa America squad includes a number of players who have reached the peak of their careers with limited international experience: Karlsruher's Daniel Gordon (30 years old, 5 appearances for Jamaica to date); Leicester City's Wes Morgan (31, 12 caps); Houston Dynamo's Giles Barnes (26, 2 caps); Derby County's Simon Dawkins (27, 8 caps); Reading's Garath McCleary (28, 9 caps).
If that group emerges more seasoned and motivated to push for a good run in World Cup qualifying, Jamaica will have had a successful time in Chile.
There are young players to watch in the Jamaica squad also: Reading defender Michael Hector and Montego Bay United forward Allan Ottey are each 22 years old and seeking their first cap.
And, of course, there is a contingent of MLS players - of which the most significant to Once A Metro is surely New York Red Bulls left back Kemar Lawrence.