MATTHEW Briggs is relishing his call-up to the Golden Jaguars ahead of their Qatar World Cup 2022 qualifiers, which will get on the way on March 25 in the Dominican Republic against Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking exclusively with Chronicle Sport from Denmark, Briggs, once the youngest player to feature in the English Premier League with Fulham FC, says he wants “to be involved in as many international games as possible.”
“It’s a great game to be called up for playing against our rivals Trinidad and Tobago…it’s going to be a good match against tough opponents but we have a great squad and I’m confident we will come out victorious,” the defender said.
Briggs, 30, has featured in 10 teams for the Golden Jaguars since making his debut at the Guyana National Stadium against Grenada.
He was an integral and important part in Guyana’s recent success and qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019.
Last September, Briggs inked a two-year deal with one of Denmark’s Superliga most successful clubs, Vejle Boldklub FC.
“It’s been good since joining Vejle,” Briggs said. “It’s felt good to be playing back in top league and playing against teams like Copenhagen and Midtjylland. I’ve have great teammates and friends in Denmark and have settled here very well.”
This is not the defender’s first time in Denmark, having played for the Copenhagen-based HB Køge.
After three seasons with Colchester, Briggs found himself down the ladder of top-flight English football, with stops at Maldon & Tiptree FC and Coggeshall Town before joining HB Køge Nordicbet LIGA in 2019, just before playing for Guyana at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Briggs has played for England at the U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels.
Guyana are drawn in Group of the CONCACAF qualifiers alongside the Soca Warriors, The Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico.
Golden Jaguars’ best run in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers came during the lead-up to the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where they had reached the penultimate round of the CONCACAF zone.
It was during that run they had a memorable showing against Trinidad and Tobago on November 11, 2011 at Guyana National Stadium where Guyana had won 2-1, thanks to goals from Ricky Shakes and former English Premier League player Leon Cort.
Guyana only played Puerto Rico twice at the senior level internationally, with the U.S. territory winning 2-0 in 1993, and Golden Jaguars, with a goal from defender King Solomon Austin, winning 1-0 in 2016.
The clash against St Kitts and Nevis will mark the third meeting for Guyana, but it will also be the first time the two countries are clashing in a World Cup qualification tournament.
