Like their senior compatriots, this country’s National Under 20 footballers will open their final round CONCACAF World qualifying phase against the United States.
Following their triumph 6-5 win on aggregate over Cuba last weekend, T&T will now travel to face the Americans in Group A action in Carson, California on January 12, 2005. Just under three weeks later (February 9), the senior teams of both countries will meet at the Queen’s Park Oval in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.
Following the USA clash, T&T Under 20s will then meet Costa Rica two days later before closing their campaign against Panama on January 16. The top two teams from the Group will then advance to the 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. The other Group, from which two teams will also advance to the World Finals, comprises hosts Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica and Canada.
Coach Anton Corneal felt that facing the Americans first would best suit the young “Soca Warriors.”
“I say this because we know very well what their style of play is. It is easier for us to play against the US than against Costa Rica because they play a disciplined type of game and to their basic strengths. Hopefully we can be tactically prepared for them and force them to not enjoy playing to their strengths,” Corneal told TTFF Media on Monday.
“We realize that it is pretty much tough group for us but we will prepare and go into the matches knowing very well that we have all to play for because two teams go will end up going through to the World Youth Championship.
“Costa Rica will be similar to Venezuela and Cuba but will be a team of more experience and passion for the game. We will have to equal that passion and at the same time eliminate their key players which most times are playmakers. We will have to ensure that we can match them and keep ourselves in the game while also playing to our strengths. Panama will no doubt play a similar style because they are a Central American team and we will have to analyze them just as well. Right now for us is just a matter of taking our game to a higher level because we have just about thirty days before the tournament continues which means that the guys will have just Christmas and New Years day off,” added Corneal who was also aware that two coaches attached to the American team were at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium to view T&T’s match with Cuba last Friday. Several scouts from American Universities also made the trip.
“When the Under 17s lost, it hurt us just as much and I am hoping that they can look back and realize that they too need to step up like the Under 20 boys did. This game is based on 70 percent fight and 30 percent ability and until we can put that into proper perspective, we need to change the pattern of our game,” Corneal said.
T&T captain Radhanfah Abu Bakr felt that constant improvement resulted in T&T’s passage into the final round. “We played to a plan which was not to allow them (Cuba) to settle and playtheir game. We have also worked very hard over the past few weeks and everyone chipped in for us to get this result,” Abu Bakr said. “We’ve played continuously with heart and soul and this is what we need to continue into the next stage. The coaching has been good. We stuck to our plan all along and played a formation which was comfortable for us.”
Final round schedule:
Group A – Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center.
12/01/05 Costa Rica vs Panama, USA vs T&T
14/01/05 T&T vs Costa Rica, USA vs Panama
16/01/05 Panama vs T&T, USA vs Costa Rica